Actinomadura xylanase sequences and methods of use

ABSTRACT

The isolation and cloning of Actinomadura spp. xylanases having a molecular weight of 35 kDa and 50 kDa are described. These xylanases are thermostable and useful in biobleaching of wood pulp.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/332,412, filed Oct. 31, 1994, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/282,001, filed Jul. 29, 1994, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the area of thermostable enzymes, and the use of same. Especially, the invention is in the area of xylanases that are active at a high temperature. The compositions of the invention are useful to modify plant biomass properties, especially to reduce the lignin content. The invention is also directed to a method for biobleaching using the enzyme compositions of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The aim of kraft pulp bleaching is to remove the residual lignin that is left in pulp after kraft cooking. Traditionally, this has been done using chlorine-containing chemicals. Because of environmental concerns and consumer demands, alternative bleaching technologies have been desired.

The first biotechnical approach to this problem was to attack the lignin directly with lignin degrading enzymes. However, the chemistry of enzymatic lignin degradation seems to be very complicated and difficult to control.

Lignin can be degraded, if the whole microorganism that produces ligninases is used. However, treatment times are relatively long. For example, treatment times may take days, and the microorganisms need supplemental nutrients to work. It can also be difficult to control the growth of other, undesired, microbes. The use of lignin degradation by isolated ligninases or by microorganisms is the subject of much research. (see, for example, Farrell, R. L. et al., Lignocellulosics 305-315 (1992); Jurasek, L., Lignocellulosics 317-325 (1992)).

In addition to cellulose and lignin, wood pulp contains hemicellulose. Another approach is to attack hemicellulose--the third main component of wood. The hemicellulose in native hardwood is mainly xylan, while in softwood the hemicellulose is mainly glucomannans and some xylan. During kraft cooking, part of the xylan is dissolved into the cooking liquor. Towards the end of the cooking period when the alkali concentration decreases, part of the dissolved and modified xylan reprecipitates back onto the cellulose fiber.

In 1986, it was noticed that xylanase pretreatment of unbleached kraft pulp results in a lessened need for chemicals in the bleaching process (Viikari, L. et al., Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Conf. on Biotechnology in the Pulp Paper Ind., Stockholm (1986), pp. 67-69). Xylanase pretreatment of kraft pulp partially hydrolyses the xylan in kraft pulp. This makes the pulp structure more porous and enables more efficient removal of lignin fragments in the subsequent bleaching and extraction stages. Later, in several laboratories, the xylanase pretreatment was reported to be useful in conjunction with bleaching sequences consisting of Cl₂, ClO₂, H₂ O₂, O₂ and O₃. See reviews in Viikari, L. et al., FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 13: (1994--in press); Viikari, L. et al., in: Saddler, J. N., ed., Bioconversion of Forest and Agricultural Plant Residues, C-A-B International (1993), pp. 131-182; Grant, R., Pulp and Paper Int. (Sep. 1993), pp. 56-57; Senior & Hamilton, J. Pulp & Paper :111-114 (Sept. 1992); Bajpai & Bajpai, Process Biochem. 27:319-325 (1992); Onysko, A., Biotech. Adv. 11:179-198 (1993); and Viikari, L. et al., J. Paper and Timber 73:384-389 (1991).

As a direct result of the better bleachability of the pulp after such a xylanase treatment, there is a reduction of the subsequent consumption of bleaching chemicals, which when chloride containing chemicals are used, leads to a reduced formation of environmentally undesired organo-chlorine compounds. Also as a direct result of the better bleachability of pulp after a xylanase treatment, it is possible to produce a product with a final brightness where such brightness would otherwise be hard to achieve (such as totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching using peroxide). Because of the substrate specificity of the xylanase enzyme, cellulose fibers are not harmed and the strength properties of the product are well within acceptable limits.

However, it is not as simple as merely adding a xylanase treatment step. Most commercial xylanases designed for pulp bleaching are not very thermotolerant, especially when neutral or alkaline pH conditions are used. In practice, xylanases are generally inefficient or inactive at temperatures higher than 60° C.

The cloning of xylanases has been reported from Actinomadura sp. FC7 (Ethier, J.-F. et al., in: Industrial Microorganisms: Basic and Applied Molecular Genetics, R. Baltz et al., eds, (Proc. 5th ASM Conf. Gen. Mol. Biol. Indust. Microorg., Oct. 11-15, 1992, Bloomington, Ind., poster C25); bacteria (e.g. Ghangas, G. S. et al., J. Bacteriol. 171:2963-2969 (1989); Lin, L.-L., Thomson, J. A., Mol. Gen. Genet. 228:55-61 (1991); Shareck, F. et al., Gene 107:75-82 (1991); Scheirlinck, T. et al., Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 33:534-541 (1990); Whitehead, T. R., Lee, D. A., Curr. Microbiol. 23:15-19 (1991)); and fungi (Boucher, F. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 16:9874 (1988); Ito, K. et al., Biosci. Biotec. Biochem. 56:906-912 (1992); Maat, J. et al., in Visser, J. et al., eds., Xylans and Xylanases (Elsevier Science, Amsterdam), pp. 349-360 (1992); van den Broeck, H. et al., EP 463,706 A1 (1992), WO 93/25671 and WO 93/25693). It has been proposed by some researchers that the former genus Actinomadura should be divided into two genuses, Actinomadura and Microtetraspora, the latter including, e.g. the former A. flexuosa (Kroppenstedt et al., System. Appl. Microbiol. 13:148-160 (1990).

It is known that Thermomonospora fusca produces thermostable and alkaline stable xylanases (EP 473,545, Sandoz). The use of hemicellulose hydrolyzing enzymes in different bleaching sequences is discussed in WO 89/08738, EP 383,999, WO 91/02791, EP 395,792, EP 386,888, EP 473,545, EP 489,104 and WO 91/05908. The use of hemicellulolytic enzymes for improved water removal from mechanical pulp is discussed in EP 262,040, EP 334,739 and EP 351,655 and DE 4,000,558. When the hydrolysis of biomass to liquid fuels or chemicals is considered, the conversion of both cellulose and hemicellulose is essential to obtain a high yield (Viikari et al., "Hemicellulases for Industrial Applications," In: Bioconversion of Forest and Agricultural Wastes, Saddler, J., ed., CAB International, USA (1993)). Also, in the feed industry, there is a need to use a suitable combination of enzyme activities to degrade the high β-glucan and hemicellulose containing substrate.

A xylanase that is active at an alkaline pH would decrease the need to acidify the pulp prior to xylanase treatment. In addition, the temperatures of many modern kraft cooking and bleaching processes are relatively high, well above the 50° C. that is suitable for many of the commercial bleaching enzymes.

Accordingly, a need exists for thermostable xylanase preparations that are stable at alkaline pH's for use in wood pulp bleaching processes.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the effect of pH on A. flexuosa (DSM43186) xylanase activity (culture supernatant).

FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B show the effect of temperature on A. flexuosa (DSM43186) xylanase activity (culture supernatant). On each figure, the four bars at each time point represent pH 7, pH 8, pH 9and pH 9.5, respectively from left to right.

FIG. 3 shows the DEAE Sepharose CL-6B chromatography elution profile of A. flexuosa (DSM43186) xylanases.

FIG. 4 shows the Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B chromatography elution profile of DEAE pool I of FIG. 3. The fractions that were combined to provide sample DEPS I/1 are indicated.

FIG. 4A shows the Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B chromatography elution profile of DEAE pool II of FIG. 3. The fractions that were combined to provide sample DEPS II/1 and DEPS II/2 are shown.

FIG. 4B shows the Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B chromatography elution profile of DEAE pool III of FIG. 3. The fractions that were combined to provide sample DEPS II/1 and DEPS 111/2 are shown.

FIG. 5 shows the Coomassie Brilliant Blue protein staining pattern of the various chromatographic pools. Two leftmost lanes: molecular weight markers; lane 1: medium; lane 2: DEPS (Pool I/1); lanes 3 and 4: DEPS (Pool II/1 and II/2, respectively); lane 5: empty; lanes 6 and 7: DEPS (Pool III/1 and II/2, respectively); lane 8: empty. DEPS: Fractions after the DEAE chromatography shown in FIG. 3 and the Phenyl Sepharose chromatography shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5A shows the Western blot analysis of the various chromatographic pools stained in FIG. 5. Polyclonal antiserum raised against the T. fusca TfxA xylanase was used for detection. Leftmost lane: molecular weight markers; lane 1: medium; lane 2: DEPS (Pool I/1); lanes 3 and 4: DEPS (Pool II/1 and II/2, respectively); lane 5: empty; lanes 6 and 7: DEPS (Pool III/1 and III/2, respectively); lane 8: empty. DEPS: Fractions after the DEAE chromatography shown in FIG. 3 and the Phenyl Sepharose chromatography shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the Phenyl Sepharose FF chromatography elution profile of DEAE flow through permeate. The tubes that were combined to provide sample PF1 and PF2 are indicated.

FIG. 6A shows the Phenyl Sepharose FF chromatography elution profile of DEAE flow through concentrate. The tubes that were combined to provide sample KF1, KF2 and KF3 are indicated.

FIG. 7 shows the Coomassie Blue protein staining pattern of the various chromatographic pools. Abbreviations are as in FIGS. 6 and 6A. Leftmost and rightmost lanes: molecular weight markers; lane 1: medium; lane 2: PF1; lane 3: PF2; lane 4: KF1; lane 5: KF2; lane 6: KF3.

FIG. 7A shows the Western blot analysis of the various chromatographic pools stained for protein in FIG. 7. Polyclonal antiserum raised against the T. fusca TfxA xylanase was used for detection. Abbreviations are as in FIGS. 6 and 6A. Leftmost and rightmost lanes: molecular weight markers; lane 1: medium; lane 2: PF1; lane 3: PF2; lane 4: KF1; lane 5: KF2; lane 6: KF3.

FIG. 8 shows the effect of BSA on the thermostability of the 35 kDa xylanase. Closed squares: no BSA; open squares: with BSA.

FIG. 9 shows the effect of BSA on the thermostability of the 50 kDa xylanase. Closed squares: no BSA; open squares: with BSA.

FIG. 10 shows the effect of pH on the activity of the 35 kDa xylanase at 80° C.

FIG. 10A shows the effect of pH on the activity of the 50 kDa xylanase at 60° C. (closed squares), 70° C. (open squares) and 80° C. (closed circles).

FIG. 10B shows the effect of pH on the activity of the 35 kDa (closed squares) and the 50 kDa (open squares) xylanases at 60° C. with 60 minute incubations.

FIG. 11 shows the effect of temperature on the activity of the 35 kDa (closed squares) and the 50 kDa (open squares) at pH 7 with 60 minute incubations.

FIG. 12 is a map of plasmid pALK185 (4470 bp).

FIG. 13-13A shows the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) of 1375 bps of Actinomadura sp. DSM43186 35 kDa xylanase.

FIG. 14-14A shows the DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:4) sequence of 1864 bps of Actinomadura sp. DSM43186 50 kDa xylanase.

FIG. 15-15A shows a homology comparison at the amino acid level between the AM50-peptide (SEQ ID NO:2) derived from the 1864 bps insert and the Actinomadura sp. FC7 xylanase II (accession no. U08894) gene (SEQ ID NO:5). The figure shows there was 70.7% identity in a 434 amino acid overlap.

FIG. 15B-15C shows a homology comparison at the amino acid level between the AM50-peptide (SEQ ID NO:7) derived from the 1864 bps insert and the Streptomyces lividans xylanase A (xlnA) gene (accession no. M64551) (SEQ ID NO:8). The figure shows there was 70.3% identity in a 489 amino acid overlap.

DEPOSITS

Plasmids pALK923, pALK938, pALK939, pALK940, pALK941 and pALK1056 were deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkalturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1 b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany and assigned accession numbers DSM 9322, DSM 9899, DSM 9900, DSM 9901, DSM 9902 and DSM 9903, respectively. pALK 923 was deposited on Jul. 29, 1994, and pALK 938-941 and pALK1056 were deposited on Apr. 3, 1995.

Plasmids pALK927 and pALK928 (that gave a positive signal with the S. lividans xlnA oligomer probe and contained the gene for the 50 kDa Actinomadura xylanase) were deposited at the DSM on Sep. 27, 1994, and assigned accession numbers DSM 9447 and DSM 9448, respectively. The host Actinomadura flexuosa is available as depository accession number DSM43186 from Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Definitions

In the description that follows, a number of terms used in recombinant DNA technology are extensively utilized. In order to provide a clearer and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided.

Xylanase. As used herein, a xylanase is a hemicellulase that cuts the β-1,4 bonds within the xylosic chain of xylan, (xylan is a polymer of D-xylose residues that are joined through β-1,4 linkages). Xylanase activity is synonymous with xylanolytic activity.

By an amino acid sequence that is an "equivalent" of a specific amino acid sequence is meant an amino acid sequence that is not identical to the specific amino acid sequence, but rather contains at least some amino acid changes (deletion, substitutions, inversions, insertions, etc.) that do not essentially affect the biological activity of the protein as compared to a similar activity of the specific amino acid sequence, when used for a desired purpose. Preferably, an "equivalent" amino acid sequence contains at least 85%-99% homology at the amino acid level to the specific amino acid sequence, most preferably at least 90% and in an especially highly preferable embodiment, at least 95% homology, at the amino acid level.

By the "biological" activity of a xylanase amino acid sequence of the invention is meant the enzymatic, functional (such as, for example, the secretion signal, or sequence of a specific domain) or the immunological activity of such amino acid sequence.

By a host that is "substantially incapable" of synthesizing one or more enzymes is meant a host in which the activity of one or more of the listed enzymes is depressed, deficient, or absent when compared to the wild-type.

Enzyme preparation. By "enzyme preparation" is meant a composition containing enzymes that have been extracted from (either partially or completely purified from) a microbe or the medium used to grow such microbe. "Extracted from" means any method by which the desired enzymes are separated from the cellular mass and includes breaking cells and also simply removing the culture medium from spent cells. Therefore, the term "enzyme preparation" includes compositions comprising medium previously used to culture a desired microbe(s) and any enzymes which the microbe(s) has secreted into such medium during the culture.

Bio-bleaching. By "bio-bleaching" is meant the extraction of lignin from cellulose pulp after the action of hemicellulose degrading enzymes with or without lignin degrading enzymes. Removal of the lignin may be restricted by hemicelluloses either physically (through reprecipitation onto the fiber surface during cooking) or chemically (through lignin-carbohydrate complexes). The hemicellulase activity partially degrades the hemicellulose, which enhances the extractability of lignins by conventional bleaching chemicals (like chlorine, chlorine dioxide, peroxide, etc.) (Viikari et al., "Bleaching with Enzymes" in Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Proc. 3rd Int. Conf., Stockholm, pp. 67-69 (1986); Viikari et al., "Applications of Enzymes in Bleaching" in Proc. 4th Int. Symp. Wood and Pulping Chemistry, Paris, Vol. 1, pp. 151-154 (1987); Kantelinen et al., "Hemicellulases and their Potential Role in Bleaching" in International Pulp Bleaching Conference, Tappi Proceedings, pp. 1-9 (1988)). The advantage of this improved bleachability is a lower consumption of bleaching chemicals and lower environmental loads or higher final brightness values.

"Homologous." By an enzyme "homologous" to a host of the invention is meant that an untransformed strain of the same species as the host species naturally produces some amount of the native protein; by a gene "homologous" to a host of the invention is meant a gene found in the genome of an untransformed strain of the same species as the host species. By an enzyme "heterologous" to a host of the invention is meant that an untransformed strain of the same species as the host species does not naturally produce some amount of the native protein; by a gene "heterologous" to a host of the invention is meant a gene not found in the genome of an untransformed strain of the same species as the host species.

Cloning vehicle. A plasmid or phage DNA or other DNA sequence (such as a linear DNA) which provides an appropriate nucleic acid environment for the transfer of a gene of interest into a host cell. The cloning vehicles of the invention may be designed to replicate autonomously in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. In fungal hosts such as Trichoderma, the cloning vehicles generally do not autonomously replicate and instead, merely provide a vehicle for the transport of the gene of interest into the Trichoderma host for subsequent insertion into the Trichoderma genome. The cloning vehicle may be further characterized by one or a small number of endonuclease recognition sites at which such DNA sequences may be cut in a determinable fashion without loss of an essential biological function of the vehicle, and into which DNA may be spliced in order to bring about replication and cloning of such DNA. The cloning vehicle may further contain a marker suitable for use in the identification of cells transformed with the cloning vehicle. Markers, for example, are antibiotic resistance. Alternatively, such markers may be provided on a cloning vehicle which is separate from that supplying the gene of interest. The word "vector" is sometimes used for "cloning vehicle."

Expression vehicle. A vehicle or vector similar to a cloning vehicle but which is capable of expressing a gene of interest, after transformation into a desired host.

When a fungal host is used, the gene of interest is preferably provided to a fungal host as part of a cloning or expression vehicle that integrates into the fungal chromosome. Sequences which derive from the cloning vehicle or expression vehicle may also be integrated with the gene of interest during the integration process. For example, in T. reesei, the gene of interest can be directed to the cbh1 locus.

The gene of interest may preferably be placed under the control of (i.e., operably linked to) certain control sequences such as promoter sequences provided by the vector (which integrate with the gene of interest). If desired, such control sequences may be provided by the host's chromosome as a result of the locus of insertion.

Expression control sequences on an expression vector will vary depending on whether the vector is designed to express a certain gene in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host (for example, a shuttle vector may provide a gene for selection in bacterial hosts) and may additionally contain transcriptional elements such as, enhancer elements, termination sequences, and/or translational initiation and termination sites.

I. Identification and Isolation of Actinomadura flexuosa xylanases

Two xylanases have been identified, purified and cloned from Actinomadura flexuosa. Both of these xylanases have a pH optimum and thermostability that are desirable for the biobleaching of wood pulp. One of these xylanases has a molecular weight of about 35 kDa (AM35) and the other has a molecular weight of about 50 kDa (AM50).

The optimal temperature range for Actinomadura flexuosa xylanases in crude preparations is 70-80° C. at pH 6-7. At pH 8, the optimum temperature range of this xylanase preparation is 60-70° C. This is useful in kraft pulp bleaching because after kraft cooking, the pH of the pulp is alkaline.

In purified preparations, AM35 retains 80% of its activity, and AM50 retains 90% of its activity after 24 hours when incubated in the presence of BSA. At 80° C., both AM35 and AM50 are most active at pH 6 but both exhibit a broad activity plateau between pH 5-pH 7, wherein about 80% of the activity is retained.

For the isolation of AM35 and AM50, the host Actinomadura flexuosa is available as depository accession number DSM43186 from Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany. Both forms can be purified by passage through a series of chromatographic columns. A first purification step by DEAE Sepharose CL-4B retains about half of the xylanase activity when the sample is applied at pH 8.6-9 in 12.5 mM Na₂ HPO₄ ; the other half is found in the flow through.

Elution of the bound xylanase activity with a salt gradient results in an elution of a sharp, earlier eluting peak of activity and a broad, later eluting peak of activity. The sharp, earlier eluting peak retains its homogeneity when subjected to Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B chromatography. Samples taken from the later, broad peak of activity separate into at least two peaks when subjected to Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B chromatography. There is only weak crossreactivity of these later eluting xylanases with a polyclonal antibody directed against Thermomonospora fusca xylanase.

By SDS-PAGE, the molecular weight of the xylanase in these pools from the DEAE retentate was about 50 kDa, while the molecular weights of the xylanases in the DEAE flow through was 30, 35, 40 and 50 kDa. Thus, Actinomadura flexuosa contains three or four xylanase protein bands.

II. Xylanase Bio-bleaching using the Actinomadura flexuosa Xylanases

The present invention comprehends a method for chemically treating plant biomass under conditions of high temperature of 50-80° C. and pH 5-8, and especially 60° C.-70° C., pH 6-7 and most preferably 60° C. and pH 6.5 for one hour. In a preferred embodiment, plant biomass is bio-bleached with xylanases that are able to hydrolyze xylan chains in wood pulp at neutral or moderately alkaline pH and high temperature (60° C.).

Wood pulp is a composite material consisting primarily of a matrix of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. A common procedure for wood pulp production is chemical pulping. One typical mode of chemical pulping is alkaline sulphate cooking, so called kraft cooking. Under the process conditions (high temperatures and high alkalinity), the cooking chemicals extract the lignin out of the pulp. However, not all of the lignin is removed during cooking, but part of it, (about 5%), remains in the pulp. This residual lignin has to be removed in order to get pulp suitable for paper production.

Many processes have been developed for the removal of lignin. Typically, the wood pulp is treated with chlorine or other toxic chemicals in order to remove the lignin component and provide a bleached pulp. However, the toxic by-products of this chemical treatment have a negative impact upon the health and stability of the environment into which they are released. Consequently, there is a great need for developing alternative, more environmentally protective techniques to achieve pulp bleaching. Treatment of the cooked pulp with enzymes that degrade the hemicellulose component, e.g., xylan, in the pulp, modifies the pulp so that the lignin becomes easier to remove. This leads to improved bleachability which in turn gives the advantages of lower bleaching chemical consumption and lower environmental loads and/or higher final brightness.

Under the method of the present invention, a bio-bleaching technique is developed whereby thermostable and neutral xylanases can be used in such conditions that the need to adjust the pH and temperature after the cooking step is decreased or eliminated. The processing conditions of the invention may additionally act to reduce cellulase activity in the enzyme preparation or culture medium.

In a preferred embodiment, the process of the invention is carried out in vitro in wood pulp. The process involves placing the enzyme preparation, culture medium, or concentrated mixture containing xylanase into contact with the wood pulp. Routine calculations enable those in the art to determine the optimum treatment time depending upon the result desired, the concentration and specific activity of the xylanase enzyme used, the type and concentration of pulp used, pH and temperature of the acidic liquor, and other parameter variables.

The method of the present invention may be applied alone or as a supplement to other treatments that reduce the lignin content of wood pulp, increase its drainability and/or decrease its water retention. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is used to enhance brightness properties of the wood pulp by treatment of chemical pulps, i.e., those pulps containing lignin that has been chemically modified through chemical treatment.

In a preferred embodiment, the xylanases used in the methods of the invention are preferably those of Actinomadura flexuosa, and especially the 35 kDa and/or 50 kDa xylanases of Actinomadura flexuosa. Especially, culture medium that contains the enzymes secreted as a result of the growth of the cells is useful in the methods of the invention, as is the culture medium that can be provided by a recombinant host that has been transformed with the xylanase encoding genes of the invention.

III. Genetic Engineering of the Hosts of the Invention

The process for genetically engineering the hosts of the invention is facilitated through the cloning of genetic sequences that encode the desired xylanase activity and through the expression of such genetic sequences. As used herein the term "genetic sequences" is intended to refer to a nucleic acid molecule (preferably DNA). Genetic sequences that encode the desired xylanase are derived from a variety of sources. These sources include Actinomadura flexuosa genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA and combinations thereof. Vector systems may be used to produce hosts for the production of the enzyme preparations of the invention. Such vector construction (a) may further provide a separate vector construction (b) which encodes at least one desired gene to be integrated to the genome of the host and (c) a selectable marker coupled to (a) or (b). Alternatively, a separate vector may be used for the marker.

A nucleic acid molecule, such as DNA, is said to be "capable of expressing" a polypeptide if it contains expression control sequences which contain transcriptional regulatory information and such sequences are "operably linked" to the nucleotide sequence which encodes the polypeptide.

An operable linkage is a linkage in which a sequence is connected to a regulatory sequence (or sequences) in such a way as to place expression of the sequence under the influence or control of the regulatory sequence. Two DNA sequences (such as a protein encoding sequence and a promoter region sequence linked to the 5' end of the encoding sequence) are said to be operably linked if induction of promoter function results in the transcription of the protein encoding sequence MRNA and if the nature of the linkage between the two DNA sequences does not (1) result in the introduction of a frame-shift mutation, (2) interfere with the ability of the expression regulatory sequences to direct the expression of the mRNA, antisense RNA, or protein, or (3) interfere with the ability of the template to be transcribed by the promoter region sequence. Thus, a promoter region would be operably linked to a DNA sequence if the promoter were capable of effecting transcription of that DNA sequence.

The precise nature of the regulatory regions needed for gene expression may vary between species or cell types, but shall in general include, as necessary, 5' non-transcribing and 5' non-translating (non-coding) sequences involved with initiation of transcription and translation respectively. Expression of the protein in the transformed hosts requires the use of regulatory regions functional in such hosts. A wide variety of transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences can be employed. In eukaryotes, where transcription is not linked to translation, such control regions may or may not provide an initiator methionine (AUG) codon, depending on whether the cloned sequence contains such a methionine. Such regions will, in general, include a promoter region sufficient to direct the initiation of RNA synthesis in the host cell.

As is widely known, translation of eukaryotic MRNA is initiated at the codon which encodes the first methionine. For this reason, it is preferable to ensure that the linkage between a eukaryotic promoter and a DNA sequence which encodes the protein, or a functional derivative thereof, does not contain any intervening codons which are capable of encoding a methionine. The presence of such codons results either in a formation of a fusion protein (if the AUG codon is in the same reading frame as the protein encoding DNA sequence) or a frame-shift mutation (if the AUG codon is not in the same reading frame as the protein encoding sequence).

In a preferred embodiment, a desired protein is secreted into the surrounding medium due to the presence of a secretion signal sequence. If a desired protein does not possess its own signal sequence, or if such signal sequence does not function well in the host, then the protein's coding sequence may be operably linked to a signal sequence homologous or heterologous to the host. The desired coding sequence may be linked to any signal sequence which will allow secretion of the protein from the host. Such signal sequences may be designed with or without specific protease sites such that the signal peptide sequence is amenable to subsequent removal. Alternatively, a host that leaks the protein into the medium may be used, for example a host with a mutation in its membrane.

If desired, the non-transcribed and/or non-translated regions 3' to the sequence coding for a protein can be obtained by the above-described cloning methods. The 3'-non-transcribed region may be retained for its transcriptional termination regulatory sequence elements; the 3'-non-translated region may be retained for its translational termination regulatory sequence elements, or for those elements which direct polyadenylation in eukaryotic cells.

The vectors of the invention may further comprise other operably linked regulatory elements such as enhancer sequences.

In a preferred embodiment, genetically stable transformants are constructed whereby a desired protein's DNA is integrated into the host chromosome. The coding sequence for the desired protein may be from any source. Such integration may occur de novo within the cell or, in a most preferred embodiment, be assisted by transformation with a vector which functionally inserts itself into the host chromosome, for example, DNA elements which promote integration of DNA sequences in chromosomes.

Cells that have stably integrated the introduced DNA into their chromosomes are selected by also introducing one or more markers which allow for selection of host cells which contain the expression vector in the chromosome, for example the marker may provide biocide resistance, e.g., resistance to antibiotics, or heavy metals, such as copper, or the like. The selectable marker gene can either be directly linked to the DNA gene sequences to be expressed, or introduced into the same cell by co-transfection.

Factors of importance in selecting a particular plasmid or viral vector include: the ease with which recipient cells that contain the vector may be recognized and selected from those recipient cells which do not contain the vector; the number of copies of the vector which are desired in a particular host; and whether it is desirable to be able to "shuttle" the vector between host cells of different species.

Once the vector or DNA sequence containing the construct(s) is prepared for expression, the DNA construct(s) is introduced into an appropriate host cell by any of a variety of suitable means, including transformation as described above. After the introduction of the vector, recipient cells are grown in a selective medium, which selects for the growth of transformed cells. Expression of the cloned gene sequence(s) results in the production of the desired protein, or in the production of a fragment of this protein. This expression can take place in a continuous manner in the transformed cells, or in a controlled manner.

Accordingly, the xylanase encoding sequences may be operably linked to any desired vector and transformed into a selected host, so as to provide for expression of such proteins in that host.

The xylanase encoding sequences may be fused in frame to other sequences so as to construct DNA encoding a fusion protein. For example, a recombinant vector encoding a xylanase gene can be prepared as above, except that the xylanase encoding sequence is fused with the sequence of a T. reesei cellulase, hemicellulase or mannanase, or at least one functional domain of said cellulase, hemicellulase, or mannanase as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,405, WO 93/24622 and in GenBank submission L25310, each incorporated herein by reference. Especially, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of CBHI, CBHII, EGI, EGII, XYLI, XYLII and mannanase (MANI), or a domain thereof, such as the secretion signal or the core sequence. Mannanase has the same domain structure as that of the cellulases: a core domain, containing the active site, a hinge domain containing a serine-threonine rich region, and a tail, containing the binding domain.

Fusion peptides can be constructed that contain an N-terminal mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase core domain or the core and the hinge domains from the same, fused to the Actinomadura xylanase sequence. The result is a protein that contains N-terminal mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase core or core and hinge regions, and a C-terminal Actinomadura xylanase. The fusion protein contains both the mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase and xylanase activities of the various domains as provided in the fusion construct.

Fusion proteins can also be constructed such that the mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase tail or a desired fragment thereof, is included, placed before the Actinomadura xylanase sequence, especially so as to allow use of a nonspecific protease site in the tail as a protease site for the recovery of the xylanase sequence from the expressed fusion protein. Alternatively, fusion proteins can be constructed that provide for a protease site in a linker that is placed before the Actinomadura xylanase, with or without tail sequences.

IV. The Enzyme Preparations of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided enzyme compositions useful in a method for biobleaching and pulp and paper processing. There is also provided a method for producing an enzyme preparation partially or completely deficient in cellulolytic activity (that is, in the ability to completely degrade cellulose to glucose) and enriched in xylanases desirable for pulp and paper processing. By "deficient in cellulolytic activity" is meant a reduced, lowered, depressed, or repressed capacity to degrade cellulose to glucose. Such cellulolytic activity deficient preparations, and the making of same by recombinant DNA methods, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,405, incorporated herein by reference. As described herein, xylanases may be provided directly by the hosts of the invention (the hosts themselves are placed in the wood processing medium). Alternatively, used medium from the growth of the hosts, or purified enzymes therefrom, can be used. Further, if desired activities are present in more than one recombinant host, such preparations may be isolated from the appropriate hosts and combined prior to use in the method of the invention.

The enzyme preparations of the invention satisfy the requirements of specific needs in various applications in the pulp and paper industry. For example, if the intended application is improvement of the strength of the mechanical mass of the pulp, then the enzyme preparations of the invention may provide enzymes that enhance or facilitate the ability of cellulose fibers to bind together. In a similar manner, in the application of pulp milling, the enzyme preparations of the invention may provide enzymes that enhance or facilitate such swelling.

To obtain the enzyme preparations of the invention, the native or recombinant hosts described above having the desired properties (that is, hosts capable of expressing large quantities of the desired xylanase enzymes and optionally, those which are substantially incapable of expressing one or more cellulase enzymes) are cultivated under suitable conditions, the desired enzymes are secreted from the hosts into the culture medium, and the enzyme preparation is recovered from said culture medium by methods known in the art.

The enzyme preparation can be produced by cultivating the recombinant host or native strain in a fermentor. For example, the enzyme preparation of the present invention can be produced in a liquid cultivation medium that contains oat spelt xylans as the main carbon source as described by Morosoli (Biochem J. 239:587-592 (1986)).

The enzyme preparation is the culture medium with or without the native or transformed host cells, or is recovered from the same by the application of methods well known in the art. However, because the xylanase enzymes are secreted into the culture media and display activity in the ambient conditions of the hemicellulolytic liquor, it is an advantage of the invention that the enzyme preparations of the invention may be utilized directly from the culture medium with no further purification. If desired, such preparations may be lyophilized or the enzymatic activity otherwise concentrated and/or stabilized for storage. The enzyme preparations of the invention are very economical to provide and use because (1) the enzymes may be used in a crude form; isolation of a specific enzyme from the culture fluid is unnecessary and (2) because the enzymes are secreted into the culture medium, only the culture medium need be recovered to obtain the desired enzyme preparation; there is no need to extract an enzyme from the hosts.

If desired, an expressed protein may be further purified in accordance with conventional conditions, such as extraction, precipitation, chromatography, affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, or the like.

The invention is described in more detail in the following examples, These examples show only a few concrete applications of the invention. It is self evident for one skilled in the art to create several similar applications. Hence the examples should not be interpreted to narrow the scope of the invention only to clarify the use of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Actinomadura flexuosa DSM43186 Shake Flask and Fermentor Cultivations

The strain Actinomadura flexuosa DSM43186 was streaked on rolled oats mineral medium plate (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zelikulturen GmbH German collection of microorganisms and cell cultures!, DSM Catalogue of strains, 3rd ed., Braunschweig, Germany (1983)); 1 liter contains 20 g agar, 20 g rolled oats, 1 ml trace element solution containing 100 mg FeSO₄ ×7H₂ O, 100 mg MnCl₂ ×4H₂ O, 100 mg ZnSO₄ ×7H₂ O/100 ml; pH 9.0) and incubated at 50° C. until sporulating. A sporulating colony was inoculated in 10 ml of XPYB medium (Greiner-Mai, E. et al., System. Appl. Microbiol. 9:97-109 (1987); Holtz, C. et al., Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 59:1-7 (1991)); 1 liter contains 5 g oats spelt xylan, 5 g peptone from casein, 5 g yeast extract, 5 g beef extract, 0.74 g CaCl₂ ×2H₂ O; pH 9.0) and was incubated at 55° C. in a rotary shaker (250 rpm) for two to three days. An inoculum of 5 ml was then transferred to 250 ml of the same medium and incubated at the same conditions for three days. Xylanase activity obtained was 17 nkat/ml (measured at pH 6.0, 60° C., 5 min reaction; Bailey, M. J. et al., J. Biotechnol 23:257-270 (1992).

The procedure for two 1 l fermentations (Biostat M, B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) was prepared as above. 10% (v/v) inoculum was used for the fermentations. The pH was maintained at pH 7.8±0.2 by addition of ammonia (12.5% (v/v)) and phosphoric acid (17% (v/v)), the fermentation temperature was 50° C. The fermentor was stirred at 400 rpm and the air flow was 1l/min. The xylanase activities obtained were 32 and 58 nkat/ml (pH 6.0, 60° C., 5 min reaction; Bailey, M. J. et al., J. Biotechnol 23:257-270 (1992).

Example 2 Determination of the Optimal pH and Temperature of Actinomadura flexuosa Xylanase Activity from the Culture Supernatant

Xylanase activities throughout the Examples were measured according to Bailey, M. J. et al., J. Biotechnol 23:257-270 (1992) using 1% (w/v) birch xylan (Roth 7500) as a substrate. The assay conditions are, if not otherwise stated, pH 5.3 and 50° C., with an incubation time of 5 min. (Bailey, M. et al., J. Biotechnol. 23:257-270 (1992)). One xylanase unit (1 nkat) is defined as the amount of enzyme that produces reducing carbohydrates having a reducing power corresponding to one nmol of xylose in one second from birch xylan under assay conditions. Defining the International Unit as the amount of enzyme that produces one micromole of measured end-products in one minute from the polymeric substrate, then 1 IU=16.67 nkat.

To determine the optimal pH for the Actinomadura xylanase activity, samples from the shake flask cultivation (culture supernatant) were diluted in McIlvain's buffers (0.25 M citric acid-0.5 M Na₂ HPO₄) of pH-range 3.01-1.0. The final pHs of the enzyme buffer mixtures were 3.5, 4.5, 5.4, 6.4, 7.2, 8.0, 8.5, 9.7 and 11.2. Xylanase activity was measured at each pH at 50° C., 5 min reaction. The xylanase activity exhibited 80-100% of its maximum activity in the pH range of about 5.4-8.0. The enzyme had its maximum activity at about pH 6.4 (FIG. 1).

For the thermal stability determination, samples from the culture supernatant were diluted in McIlvain's buffers. BSA was added to a concentration of 100 μg/ml and pepstatin A (10 μg/ml) as well as phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF, 174 μg/ml) were added as protease inhibitors. The final pHs of the enzyme buffer mixtures were 6.9, 7.8, 9.0 and 9.4. Samples were incubated in the absence of the substrate at 60° C., 70° C. and 80° C. Samples were taken at intervals of 0, 30, 60 and 120 minutes and immediately cooled on ice prior to the residual xylanase activity determination at 50° C. (5 min reaction in the corresponding pH). The enzyme was very stable when incubated at 60° C. and 70° C.; after 120 minutes incubation at 70° C. at pH 9 over 60% of xylanase activity was retained (FIG. 2, 2A and 2B).

Example 3 Purification of Actinomadura Xylanases

Purification of xylanases from Actinomadura growth medium was performed at +4° C. with chromatographic columns coupled to a FPLC apparatus (Pharmacia). Xylanase activity measurements were performed at 50° C. and at pH 6.5. Protein was monitored at 280 nm throughout the purification. Samples were run on polyacrylamide slab gels containing 0.1% SDS on a Bio-Rad Mini Protean II electrophoresis system and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. A polyclonal antibody prepared against Thermomonospora fusca xylanase A (TfxA, obtained from Prof. David Wilson, Cornell University) was used to detect Actinomadura xylanase(s) in Western blots. In the detection, Promega's ProtoBlot® AP System was used.

A growth media of the two 1 l fermentations described above was pooled and centrifuged at 8,000 g for 30 min. The supernatant (1,500 ml) was diluted 1+2 with 12.5 mM Na₂ HPO₄ pH 9 and adjusted to pH 8.6 with 1 M NaOH. This sample was applied, in two sets, on a DEAE Sepharose CL-6B (Pharmacia) ion-exchanger (2.5×29 cm) equilibrated with 12.5 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9, at 100 ml/h. The flow-through of both runs was combined and processed separately as described later.

Elution of the bound proteins from the DEAE-column was accomplished by a linear gradient (400 ml+400 ml) from 25 mM Na₂ HPO₄ pH 9, to 25 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9 containing 1 M NaCl at a flow rate of 105 ml/h and fractions of 10 ml were collected. Two xylanase activity containing peaks could be collected (pool I and II), as well as a long "tailing " of the second peak (pool III).

The three pools (each combined from both DEAE runs) were adjusted to contain 2 M sodium chloride each and applied separately on a Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B (Pharmacia) column (2.5×15 cm) equilibrated with 25 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9 containing 2 M NaCl. Elution was performed at 100 ml/h with a two step gradient of 100% buffer A (25 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9) to 35% buffer B (25 mM Na₂ HPO₄ containing 60% ethylene glycol) in 60 min followed by a steeper gradient from 35% B to 100% B in 60 min. Fractions of 7 ml (pool I) or 5 ml (pools II and II) were collected. The xylanase activity containing fractions of pool I obtained were pooled and named DEPS I. Both DEAE pools II and III resulted in two xylanase activity containing peaks named DEPS II/1, DEPS II/2 and DEPS III/1, DEPS III/2, respectively.

The flow-through of the DEAE runs (see above) was concentrated with a cut-off membrane of 30 kDa, and adjusted to contain 2 M NaCl. This sample was applied on a Phenyl Sepharose 6 FastFlow (low sub; Pharmacia) column (2.5×34 cm) equilibrated with 25 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9, containing 2 M NaCl. Elution was accomplished at 300 mlh⁻¹ with the same gradient as was used for DEAE pools on Phenyl Sepharose CL-6B and fractions of 10 ml were collected. Xylanase activity containing peaks obtained were named KFI, KFII and KFIII. The permeate from the concentration was subjected to an identical Phenyl Sepharose 6 FastFlow (low sub) run, and the xylanase activity containing fractions were named PFI and PFII.

All the DEPS, KF and PF peaks obtained were dialyzed against 25 mM Na₂ HPO₄ overnight.

Roughly half of the xylanase activity was bound to DEAE Sepharose in the first purification step. Elution of the DEAE proteins from this ion-exchanger resulted in a quite sharp peak followed by a broad "peak" (FIG. 3). This broad "peak" was divided into two different pools. Each of these pools were further purified on a hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) column (FIG. 4, 4A and 4B). Some differences could be seen, in that pool I from DEAE resulted in a homogeneous peak on HIC (FIG. 4), but both pools II (FIG. 4A) and III (FIG. 4B) resulted in at least two peaks. Samples of these pools were run on SDS-PAGE and stained for protein with Coomassie Blue (FIG. 5) as well as analyzed by Western blots with T. fusca antibody (FIG. SA). The antibody reacted only with two to three bands of smaller molecular mass (35 kDa or lower) from the growth medium and weakly with the proteins in these pools. The apparent molecular masses of the proteins in these pools were 50 kDa as estimated from SDS-PAGE with molecular mass standards. Pools DEPS II/2, DEPS III/1 and DEPS III/2 were the most pure.

The flow-through cut-off the DEAE ion-exchanger was concentrated with a cut-off membrane of 30 kDa. Roughly half of the xylanase activity was found in the concentrate and half in the permeate. Both were purified further by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, resulting in two xylanase activity peaks for the permeate (FIG. 6) and three for the concentrate (FIG. 6A). These peaks were analyzed on SDS-PAGE as well as on Western blots (FIG. 7). The first peak, KF1, from the concentrate showed a band of 40 kDa apparent molecular mass on SDS-PAGE, but no reaction on Western blots. However, this peak had the highest xylanase activity. KF2showed a band of 50 kDa on SDS-PAGE reacting weakly with the antibody, but a clear band of 30 kDa could be seen on Western blots. The third peak, KF3, showed a band of 35 kDa on Western blots. The concentrate contained xylanases with apparent molecular weights of 50, 40, 35 as well as 30 kDa. The first peak, PF1, from the permeate reacted with T. fusca antibody showing two bands of 35 kDa and 30 kDa, respectively. PF2, on the other hand, showed only one band of 35 kDa on Western blots.

As a summary, Actinomadura sp. DSM43186 growth medium contains xylanases with molecular masses of about 50, 40, 35 and 30 kDa. Of these, the 35 kDa and 50 kDa proteins appear as the major bands (on SDS-PAGE) of molecular mass. It is possible that the 40 kDa xylanase band on SDS-PAGE is a degradation product of the 50 kDa band on SDS-PAGE and that the 30 kDa band on SDS-PAGE is a degradation product of 35 kDa xylanase band on SDS-PAGE.

Example 4 Production and Sequencing of Peptides

A sample (12 ml) of pool I from the DEAE Sepharose CL-6B (FIG. 3) run was subjected to gel exclusion chromatography on a HighLoad 26/60 Superdex G75 column (Pharmacia) equilibrated with 25 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9 at 120 ml/h. A sample (25 ml) of the xylanase activity containing peak fraction obtained was diluted (1+1) with water and applied on a mono Q (Pharmacia) ion-exchanger equilibrated with 12.5 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9. Elution was performed at 30 ml/h with a linear gradient from 12.5 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9 to 12.5 mM Na₂ HPO₄, pH 9 containing 0.5 M NaCl in 50 min. The xylanase activity containing peak (1 ml) was concentrated on a Centricon micro concentrator (cut-off 30 kDa) and eluted with 1% ammonium bicarbonate. This concentrated sample was evaporated and alkylated with vinylpyridin. The alkylated sample was digested with trypsin (modified trypsin, sequenal grade, Promega V5111). The digest was applied on a reverse phase column coupled to an HPLC, and peaks absorbing at 214 nm were collected manually. Each of the collected fractions were subjected to Edman degradation in a gas-pulsed-liquid-phase sequencer (Kalinen & Tilgmann, J. Protein Chem. 7:242-243 (1988)) and the released PTH amino acids were analyzed on-line by using narrow bore reverse phase HPLC.

Peptides obtained from the purified 50 kDa xylanase are listed in Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:8).

                                      TABLE 1     __________________________________________________________________________     Peptides from the purified 50 kDa xylanase     Peptide          Sequence     __________________________________________________________________________     # 1696          Ala--Ala--Ser--Thr--Leu--Ala--Glu--Gly--Ala--Ala--Gln--His--Asn--Arg          9     # 1697          Tyr--Phe--Gly--Val--Ala--Ile--Ala--Ala--Asn--Arg     # 1698          Leu--Asn--Asp--Ser--Val--Tyr--Thr--Asn--Ile--Ala--Asn--Arg     # 1699          Asn/Gly/X--Thr--Gly--Ile--Thr--Val--X--Gly--Val     # 1703          His/Glu/Thr--Glu/Phe--Leu/Asn--Val/Ser--Tyr/Val--Asn/Thr--Met/Ala--                 Val/Glu--Asn/X--Glu/X--Met/X     # 1704          Glu--Phe--Asn--Ser--Val--Thr--Ala--Glu--Asn--Glu--Met--(Lys)     __________________________________________________________________________

The combination of the peptide sequences #1696 (SEQ ID NO:9), 1697 (SEQ ID NO:10), 1698 (SEQ ID NO:1) and 1704 (SEQ ID NO:14) corresponds with 75% similarity to amino acids 42-89 in Streptonzyces lividans xylanase A. In addition, peptide #1699 (SEQ ID NO:12) shows 78% similarity to amino acids 301-309 in S. lividans XlnA (SEQ ID NO:19):

    Actinomadura                    #1696                           #1697                                  #1698                                          #1704           50 kDa              1 AASTLAEGAAQHNR                        YFGVAIAANR                               LNSDVYTNIANR                                       EFNSVTAENEMK 48                |.|||:.:|.vertline             .| .|                        |||.||.ver                        tline...|                               |.||.|.vertl                               ine..||.|                                       ||| .vertline                                       .|||.vertline                                       .|||     S. lividans             42 AESTLGAAAAQSGR                        YFGTAIASGR                               LSDSTYTSIAGR                                       EFNMVTAENEMK 89            XlnA                 #1699     Actinomadura                G           50 kDa                NTGITVXGV                  ||||:||             N     S. lividans              SRCLGITVWGVRD            XlnA             300       310

Example 5 The pH Properties and Temperature Stability of the Purified 35 kDa and 50 kDa Xylanases

The temperature stability of the purified 35 and 50 kDa enzymes (±100 μg/ml BSA) was determined by incubating the enzyme samples at 70° C., pH 6.0 for a period of 0, 2, 6 and 24 hours after which the xylanase activity of the samples was determined (at pH 6.5, 60° C., 20 min reaction). In the samples into which BSA had been added, over 80% of the original activity could be measured even after 24 h of incubation (FIGS. 8 and 9 for the 35 kDa and the 50 kDa xylanases, respectively). When BSA was not added, still about 60% (35 kDa) or 70% (50 kDa) of the original activity was measured after 24 h of incubation (FIGS. 8 and 9).

The pH dependence was determined by incubating the enzyme samples at different pH values (pH 4-8) and at temperatures of 80° C. (35 kDa) and 60, 70 and 80° C. (50 kDa) for 20 minutes (35 kDa) or 10 minutes (50 kDa) or 10 minutes (50 kDa). At 80° C., the 35 kDa xylanase showed a pH optimum of around pH 6 having nearly 90% of its activity from about pH 5 to 7 (FIG. 10A). At 60° C. and 70°, the 50 kDa xylanase showed a pH optimum of pH 5-7 and at 80°, a pH optimum of pH 6-7. The enzyme was very stable from pH 5-7 under these conditions (FIG. 10B). Incubation of both 35 kDa and 50 kDa xylanases at 60° C. for 60 minutes at pH values from 4.2 to 8.7 showed similar stability as found in the above experiment, except that the 50 kDa xylanase seems to be less stable at pH 4.2 under these conditions (FIG. 10B). Temperature dependence experiments at pH 7 with 60 minute incubations of the 35 kDa and 50 kDa xylanases with substrate at temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80° C. showed maximal activity at 70° C. for both enzymes (FIG. 11). The 50 kDa xylanase seemed from these results to be slightly more stable at 80° C. and ph & than the 35 kDa xylanase. On the other hand, the 35 kDa xylanase showed more activity and stability in the pH range of 4-5.

Example 6 Bleaching Experiments Using the Actinomadura Culture Supernatant

A sequence of bleaching trials was done to determine the usefulness of Actinomadura flexuosa xylanase in both ECF (elementary chlorine free) and TCF (totally chlorine free) bleaching of kraft pulp.

ECF Bleaching

Growth media containing Actinomadura flexuosa xylanase (see Example 1) was added to Finnish oxygen-delignified softwood kraft pulp (kappa number=15) in the amount of 50 or 100 nkat/g pulp dry matter, at pH 7 and 70° C. for 1 hour. This culture medium is very low in endoglucanases and cellulases. Reference pulp was kept under the same conditions without enzyme addition.

All pulps were then similarly bleached in two steps: chlorine dioxide and alkaline extraction. The absorbance of the filtrate at 280 nm was determined as a measure of dissolved lignin.

                  TABLE 2     ______________________________________                0 nkat/g 50 nkat/g                                  100 nkat/g     ______________________________________     Enzyme Stage     Consistency, %                  3          3        3     Temperature, ° C.                  70         70       70     pH at start/end                  7.0/7.1    7.0/7.2  7.2/7.4     Retention time, min.                  60         60       60     A280 (dil. 1/10)                  0.22       0.49     0.65     Cl0.sub.2 Stage     Consistency, %                  3          3        3     Cl0.sub.2 -dosage, %                  2.3        2.3      2.3     Temperature, ° C.                  60         60       60     pH at end    2.4        2.5      2.5     Retention time, min.                  60         60       60     Extraction Stage     Consistency, %                  10         10       10     NaOH dosage, %                  1.5        1.5      1.5     Temperature, ° C.                  70         70       70     pH at end    10.9       10.9     10.9     Retention time, min.                  60         60       60     Final Pulp     Brightness, % ISO                  56.7       59.9     60.6     Kappa number 6.6        5.6      5.4     Viscosity dm.sup.3 /kg                  920        910      900     ______________________________________

As can be seen in Table 2, after pretreatment with the xylanase more lignin was removed (as evidenced by the change in the A²⁸⁰). The final pulps had 3-4 units higher brightness without losing the strength of the pulp (the viscosity change of 20 units is inside the normal variation of the method).

TCF Bleaching

Finish oxygen-delignified softwood kraft pulp, with kappa number of 15, was treated with Actinomadura flexuosa xylanase using enzyme dosages of 50 and 100 nkat/g pulp dry matter. The treatment was done at pH 7 at 70° C. for 1 hour. Reference pulp was kept under the same conditions without enzyme addition.

After this, all the pulps were similarly bleached in two steps: metal removal by chelation with EDTA and hydrogen peroxide. The absorbance of the filtrate at 280 nm was determined as a measure of dissolved lignin.

                  TABLE 3     ______________________________________                 0 nkat/g                         50 nkat/g                                  100 nkat/g     ______________________________________     Enzyme Stage     Consistency, %                   3         3        3     Temperature, ° C.                   70        70       70     pH at start/end                   7.0/7.4   7.0/7.3  7.0/7.3     Retention time, min.                   60        60       60     Abs 280 nm (dil. 1/10)                   0.27      0.43     0.57     Chelation Stage     Consistency, %                   3         3        3     EDTA, %       0.2       0.2      0.2     Temperature, ° C.                   70        70       70     pH at end     5.5       5.6      5.8     Retention time, min.                   60        60       60     Abs 280 nm (dil. 1/10)                   0.24      0.44     0.64     Consistency, %                   10        10       10     H.sub.2 O.sub.2 dosage, %                   3.0       3.0      3.0     H.sub.2 O.sub.2 consumption, %                   0.87      0.85     0.91     DTPA, %       0.2       0.2      0.2     MgSO.sub.4, % 0.5       0.5      0.5     NaOH, %       3.0       3.0      3.0     Temperature, ° C.                   80        80       80     pH at end     10.6      10.6     10.6     Retention time, min.                   180       180      180     Final Pulp     Brightness, % ISO                   71.9      72.9     73.0     Kappa number  9.0       8.3      7.9     Viscosity dm.sup.3 /kg                   870       890      890     ______________________________________

Table 3 shows that according to the A²⁸⁰ measurement and kappa number, significantly more lignin was removed after xylanase pretreatment, while the strength of the pulp (according the viscosity) remained good.

Example 7

Bleaching Experiments Using The Purified 35 kDa and 50 kDa Xylanases

The purified larger 50 kDa (AM50 ) xylanase and the smaller 35 kDa (AM35 ) xylanase (including also the 30 kDa xylanase) were used for bleaching experiments in a three-stage peroxide bleaching. The purified enzyme preparations were the same as used in the determination of the pH and temperature properties for the purified enzymes.

A control sample without any enzyme treatment was also included. The dry weight content and kappa number of the starting softwood pulp (V 541-18 (2129)) were 28.8% and 13.5, respectively. The starting brightness of the pulp was 37.1.

Enzyme Treatment and Dosage

The activity of the enzyme was measured at 60° C., pH 6.5, with birch wood xylan (Roth No. 7500) as a substrate. The enzyme dosage was 100 nkat/g of dry pulp. The Actinomadura xylanases were dissolved in 25 mM disodium phosphate buffer including 50 mM NaCl and the same amount of this buffer was added to the control sample. The pH of the pulp was adjusted with sulfuric acid.

Chelation

The chelation was performed by adding EDTA to 0.2% of dry weight and it was carried out at 3.0% consistency at 50° C. for one hour.

Peroxide Bleaching

The three peroxide bleaching stages (80° C., 180 min) were carried out the same way except that after each stage, one-third of the pulp was removed for testing. The conditions used were the following:

    ______________________________________            Consistency     10%            H.sub.2 O.sub.2 3%            NaOH            3%            DTPA            0.2%            MgSO.sub.4      0.5%     ______________________________________

The results with Ecopulp X-200® enzyme preparation (Primalco Ltd. Biotec., Rajamaki, Finland) containing T. reesei xylanase II are also included. The starting pulp and all other treatments are the same except that the enzyme treatment (100 nkat/g of dry weight) was carried out in water, pH 5.0 at 50° C., which is close to the optimum of the T. reesei xyl II. The activity of the enzyme was measured at 60° C., pH 6.5, with birch wood xylan (Roth No. 7500) as substrate. The control sample was treated in the same way but without the enzyme.

The reducing sugars (% dry weight) were analyzed after the enzyme treatment and were the following:

    ______________________________________                    %     ______________________________________            Control   0.19            AM50      1.18            AM35      1.64            Control   0.20            Ecopulp X-200 ®                      1.32     ______________________________________

The results from the bleachings are shown in Table 4.

                  TABLE 4     ______________________________________              ISO Brightness                       Kappa    Peroxide used (%)     ______________________________________     P1 Stage     Control    --         --       2.7     AM50       62.3       6.3      2.7     AM35       63.7       5.3      2.6     Control    62.2       5.9      2.2     Ecopulp X-200 ®                64.1       7.2      2.3     P2 Stage     Control    67.2       6.8      2.2     AM50       69.7       4.8      2.4     AM35       70.7       4.9      2.2     Control    68.8       7.7      2.2     Ecopulp X-200 ®                70.6       5.5      2.     P3 Stage     Control    71.3       5.2      2.2     AM50       74.0       4.1      2.2     AM35       74.4       2.2      2.0     Control    73.3       6.8      2.2     Ecopulp X-200 ®                74.9       4.2      2.1     ______________________________________

The use of AM50 and AM35 clearly increased the brightness obtained without increasing the amount of peroxide that was used.

Example 8 Isolation of the Chromosomal DNA and Construction of the Genomic Library

Actinomadura flexuosa sp. DSM43186 was cultivated in 50 ml of medium consisting of 10% (w/v) sucrose, 0.5% (w/v) oat spelt xylan, 0.5% (w/v) peptone from casein, 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract, 0.5% (w/v) beef extract, 0.074% (w/v) CaCl₂ ×2H₂ O, pH 7.4-7.5, in baffled shake flask for 2.5 days at 52° C. with shaking at 200 rpm. 2.5 ml of this culture was transferred to 50 ml of fresh medium supplemented with 0.8% glycine, and grown for 2 days at 50° C., 200 rpm. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation and washed with 10% sucrose-25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)-25 mM EDTA.

The chromosomal DNA was isolated according to Hopwood et al., Genetic manipulation of Streptomyces: A laboratory manual, The John Innes Foundation, Norwich, UK (1985). Briefly, the mycelium was lysed with lysozyme and 2×Kirby mixture (2 g sodium triisopropylnaphthalene sulphonate, 12 g sodium 4-amino-salicylate, 5 ml 2 M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 6 ml of Tris-HCl saturated phenol, made up to 100 ml with water). The DNA was precipitated with isopropanol and dissolved into TE (10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0). RNA was digested with RNase.

The chromosomal DNA was partially digested with Sau3A (Boehringer) and size-fractionated in sucrose gradient (10-40% (w/v) sucrose in 1 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 5 mM EDTA) run at 55,000 rpm for 6 h at 22° C. in the Beckman TL-100 ultracentrifuge in the TLS-55 rotor. The gradient was divided in fractions, and those containing DNA of mainly 7-10 kb in size were used to construct a genomic Actinomadura library.

The predigested ZAP Express™ BamHI/CIAP Vector Cloning Kit (Stratagene) was used to construct the library and the instructions of the manufacturer were followed in all the subsequent steps. Briefly, about 200 ng of size-fractionated DNA was ligated into 1 μg of ZAP Express prepared arms, and packaged using Gigapack II packaging extract (Stratagene). The titer of the library was determined by infecting E. coli XL1-Blue MRF' cells with serial dilutions of the packaged phage and plating on NZY plates. The total titer of the ligation mixture was approximately 3×10⁷ pfu/ml, with over 96% insert frequency. The library was used for screening without amplification.

Example 9A Isolation of the Gene Encoding the 35 kDa Xylanase on the Basis of Hydrolyzing Activity on RBB-xylan Plates

The genomic library of Actinomadura flexuosa sp. DSM43186 DNA in ZAP Express™ vector was screened for xylanolytic activity, as follows. The host, Stratagene E. coli XL-Blue MRF' cells were grown in LB +0.2% (w/v) maltose+10 mM MgSO₄ and adjusted to OD₆₀₀ =0.5. The cells were infected with the recombinant library for 15 min at 37° C. and plated with NZY top agar on the NZY plates. The plates were incubated for 4 hrs at 42° C., overlaid with nitrocellulose filters saturated with 10 mM IPTG to induce the lacZ-fusion protein expression, and incubated over night at room temperature.

The filters were washed with 50 mM K-phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and transferred onto RBB-xylan+Km plates. The plate has two layers; lower layer of 15 ml of regular LB+Km (40 μg/ml) and upper layer of 5 ml of RBB xylan (0.5% (w/v) RBB xylan, 1% (w/v) oats spelts xylan in LB+Km, buffered with 50 mM K-phosphate, pH 6.8). The plates were transferred to 50° C. for a second night to determine xylanolytic activity. Filters were removed, and the clear halo on the RBB-xylan+Km plates revealed the clones having xylanase activity. 22 positive plaques from the original NZY-plates were picked in SM buffer/chloroform.

The ZAP Express vector has been designed to allow simple, efficient in vivo excision and recircularization of any cloned insert contained within the lambda vector to form a phagemid containing the cloned insert. Briefly, the positive clones were incubated with XL1 Blue MRF' cells with the ExAssist helper phage. After heat denaturation (70° C., 15 min), and centrifugation, the excised phagemid pBK-CMV is packaged as filamentous phage particles in the supernatant. The rescued phagemid was mixed with XLOLR cells, and plated on LB/kanamycin (50 μg/ml) according to the manufacturer.

E. coli XLOLR cells transformed with the rescued phagemid DNAs were retested on RBB-xylan +Km. From the 22 originally positive clones 12 retained the xylanase activity. The phagemid DNAs were digested with EcoRI-PstI, electrophoresed, blotted onto a nylon membrane, and hybridized with a digoxigenin-labeled 1.15 kb T. fusca xylanase fragment from pALK185 (FIG. 12). The plasmid pALK185 contains the T. fusca xynA gene from pTX101 (Ghangas, G. S. et al., J. bact. 171:2963-2969 (1989)). Four phagemids hybridized with the T. fusca DNA probe, indicating that they carried gene(s) sharing some homology with the T. fusca fragment. These phagemids were designated pALK938, pALK939, pALK940 and pALK941.

Example 9B Isolation of the Gene Encoding the 35 kDA Xylanase on the Basis of Hybridizing to the T. fusca XynA Gene

The genomic library of Actinomadura flexuosa sp. DSM43186 DNA in ZAP Express™ vector was screened with a digoxigenin-labeled 1.15 kb T. fusca xylanase fragment from pALK185 (FIG. 12), according to supplier's instructions. 17 positive clones were picked. The phagemids were excised in vivo, as described above in example 9A. The E. coli clones harboring the positive phagemids were tested for xylanolytic activity on RBB-xylan, as described above in example 9A. 11 clones showed xylanolytic activity. One of the clones was chosen, and the plasmid was designated pALK1056.

Example 10 Isolation of the Gene Encoding the 35 kDa Xylanase on the Basis of Production of Polypeptide Recognized by the T. fusca TfxA Antibody

The polyclonal antibody against Thermomonospora fusca 32 kDa xylanase, TfxA, was used to screen the Actinomadura genomic library. Stratagene XL1-Blue MRF' cells were grown in LB+0.2% maltose+10 mM MgSO₄ and diluted to OD₆₀₀ =0.5. The cells were infected with the recombinant library for 15 min at 37° C. and plated with NZY top agar on the NZY plates. Plates were incubated for 3.5 hours at 42° C., overlaid with nitrocellulose filters saturated with 10 mM IPTG, and incubated overnight at room temperature. Detection was performed with the 1:1500 diluted T. fusca TfxA antibody using Promega's ProtoBlot® AP System. Twelve positive clones, of which the clone 1.1 clearly gave the strongest signal, were picked in SM buffer/chloroform, and purified with a second round of screening.

The phagemids were excised in vivo, as described above in example 9A. The phagemids were were then digested with EcoRI and PstI, electrophoresed, blotted onto a nylon membrane and hybridized with a digoxigenin-labeled 1.15 kb T. fusca xylanase fragment from pALK185 (FIG. 12). Of the Actinomadura flexuosa sp. DSM43186 chromosomal DNA, the T. fusca xynA probe hybridized to about a 4 kb EcoRI-Pst fragment. The clones were also tested for xylanolytic activity on RBB-xylan, as described above in example 9A. One clone (clone 1.1) was positive in both screens. The phagemid carried by this clone was designated pALK923.

Example 11 Restriction Enzyme Analysis and Sequencing of the Xylanase Gene Coding for the 35 kDa Protein

The plasmids pALK938, pALK939, pALK940, pALK941, pALK1056 and pALK923 were analyzed by restriction enzyme analysis, and were used for sequencing of the xylanase gene. The DNA was sequenced by using ABI (Applied Biosystems) kits based on fluorescent-labeled T3 and T7 primers, or sequence-specific primers with fluorescent-labelled dideoxynucleotides, by the Taq dye primer cycle sequencing protocol in accordance with the supplier's instructions. Because of the high GC content in the Actinomadura DNA, the sequencing reactions were performed with 10% (v/v) DMSO, at annealing temperature of 58-60° C. Sequencing reactions were analyzed on ABI 373A sequencer, and the sequences obtained were characterized by using the Genetics Computer Group Sequence Analysis Software Package, version 7.2. The DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) encoding the 35 kDa xylanase is presented in FIG. 13-13A. The sequence shows an ORF (open reading frame) of 1035 bp, predicting a polypeptide of 344 amino acids, and corresponding to a protein with a molecular weight of about 37.5 kDa. A putative signal processing site is found after alanine 43, and the predicted mature protein has a calculated molecular weight of about 32.9 kDa. The sequence data is thus in good agreement with the 35 kDa xylanase purification results described in Example 3. The 35 kDa gene sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) appeared identical in all the tested clones, except in the pALK923 DNA. pALK923 contained 93 bp of unknown sequence at the N-terminus of the insert, after which the Actinomadura 35 kDa xylanase gene sequence started at the location corresponding to base pair 411 in FIG. 13-13A (SEQ ID NO:7).

The sequence shows high homology towards xylanases from different organisms. At amino acid level, the gene shows about 76% homology towards the T. fusca XynA.

Example 12 Isolation of the 50 kDa Actinomadura Xylanase Gene

The genomic library of Actinomadura flexuosa sp. DSM43186 DNA in ZAP Express™ vector was screened using a DNA probe.

Oligonucleotide primers were designed based on the peptide sequences derived from the purified 50 kDa protein. The primer sequences are presented in Table 5. Because the combination of peptide sequences #1696 (SEQ ID NO:9), #1697 (SEQ ID NO:10), #1698 (SEQ ID NO:11) and #1704 (SEQ ID NO:14) corresponds with 75% similarity to amino acids 42-89 in Streptomyces lividans xylanase A, a 39 bp antisense oligo was synthesized, from bases 331 to 369 in the S. lividans xlnA sequence. The S. lividans xlnA 331-369 as (SEQ ID NO:23) probe and the primers #1704as (SEQ ID NO:22), #1703as(SEQ ID NO:21), #1696s (SEQ ID NO:20) were labeled with digoxigenin and terminal transferase, and used as probes in hybridization at 50° C. according to Boehringer, DIG DNA Labeling and Detection Nonradioactive, Applications Manual.

The #1704as (SEQ ID NO:22) and the S. lividans xln,as (SEQ ID NO:23) probe recognized the same 1.0 kb EcoRI-PstI fragment in Actinomadura DNA. The fragment is different from the 4 kb fragment recognized by the T. fusca xynA probe. Based on these results, the 39 mer S. lividans xlnas probe was used to screen the Actinomadura library for the 50 kDa xylanase coding gene.

Three positive plaques were picked after an overnight detection. These clones were named Act.xyl.50/13, Act.xyl.50/14 and Act.xyl.50/15.

The phagemids containing the cloned Actinomadura insert were excised as described in Example 9A. To determine the xylanase activity, the E. coli clones were streaked on RBB-xylan+Km plates as described in Example 9A, using the strain producing the Actinomadura 35 kDa xylanase (from plasmid pAIX923) as a positive control. The clones Act. xyl.50/13 and Act. xyl.50/14 showed xylanase activity, giving a clear halo around the colony.

                  TABLE 5     ______________________________________     Oligonucleotide primers used in the detection     of the gene coding for the Actinomadura 50 kDa     xylanase     Primer DNA sequence     ______________________________________     Actinomadura sp. DSM43186     #1696s GCA/C/G/TGCA/C/G/TCAA/G/CAC/TAAC/TA/CG     #1703as            ACCATA/GTTA/GTAA/C/G/TACA/C/G/TA     #1704as            TTCATC/TTCA/GTTC/TTCA/C/G/TGC     S. lividans xlnA 331-369as            CGTGAGTTCAACATGGTGACGGCCGAGAACGAGATGAAG     S. lividans xlnA 257-284s            AGAGCGGCCGCTACTTCGGCACCGCCAT     S. lividans xlnA 530-561as            CACGCCGTTGATGTGGTCGATCATCGCCTGGC     ______________________________________      s = sense; as = antisense

Example 13 Sequencing the Gene for the 50 kDa Xylanase Protein

The phagemid DNAs from the Act.xyl.50/13 and Act.xyl.50/14 were named pALK927 and pALK928, respectively. The S. lividans xlnA 331-369as (SEQ ID NO:23 oligomer was used to sequence the Actinomadura insert. In addition, two oligomers corresponding to nucleotides 257-284 (SEQ ID NO:23) and 530-561 (SEQ ID NO:25) in the S. lividans xlnA sequence, as well as sequence-specific primers, were synthesized to obtain sequence from the cloned insert. The sequencing reactions were performed with 10% (v/v) DMSO, at the annealing temperature of 58° C. The sequencing was performed as described in Example 11. The sequence of the 1864 bps of the Actinomadura sp. DSM43186 50 kDa xylanase gene is presented in FIG. 14-14A (SEQ ID NO:3). Peptide sequences obtained from the purified 50 kDa protein are indicated by underlining of the derived amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4). The derived peptide sequence shows 70-71% identity towards Actinomadura sp. FC7 xylanase II (FIG. 15-15A) (SEQ ID NO:5) and SEQ ID NO:6) and S. lividans xylanase A (FIG. 15B-15C) (SEQ ID NO:7) and (SEQ ID NO:8) proteins. The sequence shows an ORF of 1479 bpas, predicting a polypeptide of 492 amino acids, corresponding to a protein with a molecular weight of about 53.5 kDa.

Example 14 Fusion Proteins

A recombinant vector encoding a xylanase gene is prepared by fusing the xylanase encoding sequence with the sequence of a T. reesei cellulase or hemicellulase or at least one functional domain of said cellulase or hemicellulase, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,405, WO 93/24622 and in GenBank submission L25310, incorporated herein by reference. Especially, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of CBHI, CBHII, EGI, EGII, XYLI, XYLII and mannanase (MANI), or a domain thereof, such as the secretion signal or the core sequence.

Fusion proteins can be constructed that contain an N-terminal mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase core domain or the core and the hinge domains from the same, fused to the Actinomadura xylanase sequence. The result is a protein that contains N-terminal mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase core or core and hinge regions, and a C-terminal Actinomadura xylanase. The fusion protein contains both the mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase and xylanase activities of the various domains as provided in the fusion construct.

Fusion proteins can also be constructed such that the mannanase or cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase tail or a desired fragment thereof, is included, placed before the Actinomadura xylanase sequence, especially so as to allow use of a nonspecific protease site in the tail as a protease site for the recovery of the xylanase sequence from the expressed fusion protein. Alternatively, fusion proteins can be constructed that provide for a protease site in a linker that is placed before the Actinomadura xylanase, with or without tail sequences.

Example 15 Hosts

The recombinant construct encoding the desired xylanase or fusion protein is prepared as above, and transformed into a Trichoderma spp., Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp. or Streptonzyces spp. host.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference. While this invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING     - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 25     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1375 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: CDS               (B) LOCATION: 303..1334     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:     - CCCGGGTATT CATGTGAATG ATTAGCAACA GTTATGTTAC GGAGATATTT CT - #GAGAGTGT       60     - TGACAGGTCG TGAAGTCGGT CCGATACTTT CGAGCTAGCT CCGATAGTTT TC - #GATACGCC      120     - GGCACATCGA GCACGTCGGA CGAGTCACGC GCCACGTCGG TTTTCCGCCG CA - #CGCCGCGC      180     - AGAGCGGCCG GAGAACCCCC GCGTGTCCGC GGCATCGGTG CCGGTCCGTC GT - #TCGCCGCC      240     - GACCGCGCGC CGGGTCGCGA CACGCCAGCC CCCATCGGCC CTTCTTCACG AG - #GAAGCCGT      300     - AC ATG AAC GAA CCC CTC ACC ATC ACG CAG GCC - # AGG CGC CGC AGA CGC      347     #Ala Arg Arg Arg Arg Arghr Ile Thr Gln     #  15     - CTC GGC CTC CGG CGC ATC GTC ACC AGT GCC TT - #C GCC CTG GCA CTC GCC      395     Leu Gly Leu Arg Arg Ile Val Thr Ser Ala Ph - #e Ala Leu Ala Leu Ala     #                 30     - ATC GCC GGT GCG CTG CTG CCC GGC ACG GCC CA - #C GCC GAC ACC ACC ATC      443     Ile Ala Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro Gly Thr Ala Hi - #s Ala Asp Thr Thr Ile     #             45     - ACC CAG AAC CAG ACC GGG TAC GAC AAC GGC TA - #C TTC TAC TCG TTC TGG      491     Thr Gln Asn Gln Thr Gly Tyr Asp Asn Gly Ty - #r Phe Tyr Ser Phe Trp     #         60     - ACC GAC GCG CCC GGG ACC GTC TCC ATG ACC CT - #C CAC TCG GGC GGC AGC      539     Thr Asp Ala Pro Gly Thr Val Ser Met Thr Le - #u His Ser Gly Gly Ser     #     75     - TAC AGC ACC TCG TGG CGG AAC ACC GGG AAC TT - #C GTC GCC GGC AAG GGC      587     Tyr Ser Thr Ser Trp Arg Asn Thr Gly Asn Ph - #e Val Ala Gly Lys Gly     # 95     - TGG TCC ACC GGG GGA CGG CGG ACC GTG ACC TA - #C AAC GCC TCC TTC AAC      635     Trp Ser Thr Gly Gly Arg Arg Thr Val Thr Ty - #r Asn Ala Ser Phe Asn     #               110     - CCG TCG GGT AAC GGC TAC CTC ACG CTC TAC GG - #C TGG ACC AGG AAC CCG      683     Pro Ser Gly Asn Gly Tyr Leu Thr Leu Tyr Gl - #y Trp Thr Arg Asn Pro     #           125     - CTC GTC GAG TAC TAC ATC GTC GAG AGC TGG GG - #C ACC TAC CGG CCC ACC      731     Leu Val Glu Tyr Tyr Ile Val Glu Ser Trp Gl - #y Thr Tyr Arg Pro Thr     #       140     - GGC ACC TAC AAG GGC ACC GTC ACC ACC GAC GG - #G GGA ACG TAC GAC ATC      779     Gly Thr Tyr Lys Gly Thr Val Thr Thr Asp Gl - #y Gly Thr Tyr Asp Ile     #   155     - TAC GAG ACC TGG CGG TAC AAC GCG CCG TCC AT - #C GAG GGC ACC CGG ACC      827     Tyr Glu Thr Trp Arg Tyr Asn Ala Pro Ser Il - #e Glu Gly Thr Arg Thr     160                 1 - #65                 1 - #70                 1 -     #75     - TTC CAG CAG TTC TGG AGC GTC CGG CAG CAG AA - #G CGG ACC AGC GGC ACC      875     Phe Gln Gln Phe Trp Ser Val Arg Gln Gln Ly - #s Arg Thr Ser Gly Thr     #               190     - ATC ACC ATC GGC AAC CAC TTC GAC GCC TGG GC - #C CGC GCC GGC ATG AAC      923     Ile Thr Ile Gly Asn His Phe Asp Ala Trp Al - #a Arg Ala Gly Met Asn     #           205     - CTG GGC AGC CAC GAC TAC CAG ATC ATG GCG AC - #C GAG GGC TAC CAG AGC      971     Leu Gly Ser His Asp Tyr Gln Ile Met Ala Th - #r Glu Gly Tyr Gln Ser     #       220     - AGC GGT AGC TCC ACC GTC TCC ATC AGC GAG GG - #T GGC AAC CCC GGC AAC     1019     Ser Gly Ser Ser Thr Val Ser Ile Ser Glu Gl - #y Gly Asn Pro Gly Asn     #   235     - CCG GGT AAC CCC GGC AAC CCC GGC AAC CCC GG - #T AAC CCG GGT AAC CCC     1067     Pro Gly Asn Pro Gly Asn Pro Gly Asn Pro Gl - #y Asn Pro Gly Asn Pro     240                 2 - #45                 2 - #50                 2 -     #55     - GGC GGT GGC TGC GTC GCG ACC CTC TCC GCC GG - #C CAG CAG TGG AGC GAC     1115     Gly Gly Gly Cys Val Ala Thr Leu Ser Ala Gl - #y Gln Gln Trp Ser Asp     #               270     - CGC TAC AAC CTC AAC GTC TCG GTC AGC GGC TC - #G AAC AAC TGG ACG GTC     1163     Arg Tyr Asn Leu Asn Val Ser Val Ser Gly Se - #r Asn Asn Trp Thr Val     #           285     - CGG ATG GAC GTG CCC TAC CCG GCC CGC ATC AT - #C GCC ACC TGG AAC ATC     1211     Arg Met Asp Val Pro Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ile Il - #e Ala Thr Trp Asn Ile     #       300     - CAC GCC CAG TGG CCC GAG TCC CAG GTG CTC AT - #C GCC AGA CCC AAC GGC     1259     His Ala Gln Trp Pro Glu Ser Gln Val Leu Il - #e Ala Arg Pro Asn Gly     #   315     - AAC GGC AAC AAC TGG GGC GTG ACG ATC CAG CA - #C AAC GGC AAC TGG ACC     1307     Asn Gly Asn Asn Trp Gly Val Thr Ile Gln Hi - #s Asn Gly Asn Trp Thr     320                 3 - #25                 3 - #30                 3 -     #35     - TGG CCG ACG GTC ACC TGT ACC GCG AAC TGAGTTCCC - #G CCCCCAAAGG     1354     Trp Pro Thr Val Thr Cys Thr Ala Asn                     340     #                1375CC G     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 344 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:     - Met Asn Glu Pro Leu Thr Ile Thr Gln Ala Ar - #g Arg Arg Arg Arg Leu     #                 15     - Gly Leu Arg Arg Ile Val Thr Ser Ala Phe Al - #a Leu Ala Leu Ala Ile     #             30     - Ala Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro Gly Thr Ala His Al - #a Asp Thr Thr Ile Thr     #         45     - Gln Asn Gln Thr Gly Tyr Asp Asn Gly Tyr Ph - #e Tyr Ser Phe Trp Thr     #     60     - Asp Ala Pro Gly Thr Val Ser Met Thr Leu Hi - #s Ser Gly Gly Ser Tyr     # 80     - Ser Thr Ser Trp Arg Asn Thr Gly Asn Phe Va - #l Ala Gly Lys Gly Trp     #                 95     - Ser Thr Gly Gly Arg Arg Thr Val Thr Tyr As - #n Ala Ser Phe Asn Pro     #           110     - Ser Gly Asn Gly Tyr Leu Thr Leu Tyr Gly Tr - #p Thr Arg Asn Pro Leu     #       125     - Val Glu Tyr Tyr Ile Val Glu Ser Trp Gly Th - #r Tyr Arg Pro Thr Gly     #   140     - Thr Tyr Lys Gly Thr Val Thr Thr Asp Gly Gl - #y Thr Tyr Asp Ile Tyr     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Glu Thr Trp Arg Tyr Asn Ala Pro Ser Ile Gl - #u Gly Thr Arg Thr Phe     #               175     - Gln Gln Phe Trp Ser Val Arg Gln Gln Lys Ar - #g Thr Ser Gly Thr Ile     #           190     - Thr Ile Gly Asn His Phe Asp Ala Trp Ala Ar - #g Ala Gly Met Asn Leu     #       205     - Gly Ser His Asp Tyr Gln Ile Met Ala Thr Gl - #u Gly Tyr Gln Ser Ser     #   220     - Gly Ser Ser Thr Val Ser Ile Ser Glu Gly Gl - #y Asn Pro Gly Asn Pro     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Gly Asn Pro Gly Asn Pro Gly Asn Pro Gly As - #n Pro Gly Asn Pro Gly     #               255     - Gly Gly Cys Val Ala Thr Leu Ser Ala Gly Gl - #n Gln Trp Ser Asp Arg     #           270     - Tyr Asn Leu Asn Val Ser Val Ser Gly Ser As - #n Asn Trp Thr Val Arg     #       285     - Met Asp Val Pro Tyr Pro Ala Arg Ile Ile Al - #a Thr Trp Asn Ile His     #   300     - Ala Gln Trp Pro Glu Ser Gln Val Leu Ile Al - #a Arg Pro Asn Gly Asn     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Gly Asn Asn Trp Gly Val Thr Ile Gln His As - #n Gly Asn Trp Thr Trp     #               335     - Pro Thr Val Thr Cys Thr Ala Asn                 340     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1864 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Actinomadura               (B) STRAIN: DSM43186     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: CDS               (B) LOCATION: 194..1669     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:     - TTCGGCAGCC TATTGACAAA TTTCGTGAAT GTTTCCCACA CTTGCTCTGC AG - #ACGGCCCC       60     - GCCGATCATG GGTGCACCGG TCGGCGGGAC CGTGCTCCGA CGCCATTCGG GG - #GTGTGCGC      120     - CTGCGGGCGC GGCGTCGATC CCGCGGGGAC TCCCGCGGTT CCCTTTCCGT GT - #CCCTCTAA      180     - TGGAGGCTCA GGC ATG GGC GTG AAC GCC TTC CCC AG - #A CCC GGA GCT CGG      229     #Val Asn Ala Phe Pro Arg Pro Gly Ala Arg     #              355     - CGG TTC ACC GGC GGG CTG TAC CGG GCC CTG GC - #C GCG GCC ACG GTG AGC      277     Arg Phe Thr Gly Gly Leu Tyr Arg Ala Leu Al - #a Ala Ala Thr Val Ser     #           370     - GTG GTC GGC GTG GTC ACG GCC CTG ACG GTG AC - #C CAG CCC GCC AGC GCC      325     Val Val Gly Val Val Thr Ala Leu Thr Val Th - #r Gln Pro Ala Ser Ala     #       385     - GCG GCG AGC ACG CTC GCC GAG GGT GCC GCG CA - #G CAC AAC CGG TAC TTC      373     Ala Ala Ser Thr Leu Ala Glu Gly Ala Ala Gl - #n His Asn Arg Tyr Phe     #   400     - GGC GTG GCC ATC GCC GCG AAC AGG CTC ACC GA - #C TCG GTC TAC ACC AAC      421     Gly Val Ala Ile Ala Ala Asn Arg Leu Thr As - #p Ser Val Tyr Thr Asn     405                 4 - #10                 4 - #15                 4 -     #20     - ATC GCG AAC CGC GAG TTC AAC TCG GTG ACG GC - #C GAG AAC GAG ATG AAG      469     Ile Ala Asn Arg Glu Phe Asn Ser Val Thr Al - #a Glu Asn Glu Met Lys     #               435     - ATC GAC GCC ACC GAG CCG CAG CAG GGG CGG TT - #C GAC TTC ACC CAG GCC      517     Ile Asp Ala Thr Glu Pro Gln Gln Gly Arg Ph - #e Asp Phe Thr Gln Ala     #           450     - GAC CGG ATC TAC AAC TGG GCG CGC CAG AAC GG - #C AAG CAG GTC CGC GGC      565     Asp Arg Ile Tyr Asn Trp Ala Arg Gln Asn Gl - #y Lys Gln Val Arg Gly     #       465     - CAC ACC CTG GCC TGG CAC TCG CAG CAG CCG CA - #G TGG ATG CAG AAC CTC      613     His Thr Leu Ala Trp His Ser Gln Gln Pro Gl - #n Trp Met Gln Asn Leu     #   480     - AGC GGC CAG GCG CTG CGC CAG GCG ATG ATC AA - #C CAC ATC CAG GGG GTC      661     Ser Gly Gln Ala Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Ile As - #n His Ile Gln Gly Val     485                 4 - #90                 4 - #95                 5 -     #00     - ATG TCC TAC TAC CGG GGC AAG ATC CCG ATC TG - #G GAC GTG GTG AAC GAG      709     Met Ser Tyr Tyr Arg Gly Lys Ile Pro Ile Tr - #p Asp Val Val Asn Glu     #               515     - GCG TTC GAG GAC GGA AAC TCC GGC CGC CGG TG - #C GAC TCC AAC CTC CAG      757     Ala Phe Glu Asp Gly Asn Ser Gly Arg Arg Cy - #s Asp Ser Asn Leu Gln     #           530     - CGC ACC GGT AAC GAT TGG ATC GAG GTC GCG TT - #C CGC ACC GCC CGC CAG      805     Arg Thr Gly Asn Asp Trp Ile Glu Val Ala Ph - #e Arg Thr Ala Arg Gln     #       545     - GGG GAC CCC TCG GCC AAG CTC TGC TAC AAC GA - #C TAC AAC ATC GAG AAC      853     Gly Asp Pro Ser Ala Lys Leu Cys Tyr Asn As - #p Tyr Asn Ile Glu Asn     #   560     - TGG AAC GCG GCC AAG ACC CAG GCG GTC TAC AA - #C ATG GTG CGG GAC TTC      901     Trp Asn Ala Ala Lys Thr Gln Ala Val Tyr As - #n Met Val Arg Asp Phe     565                 5 - #70                 5 - #75                 5 -     #80     - AAG TCC CGC GGC GTG CCC ATC GAC TGC GTG GG - #C TTC CAG TCG CAC TTC      949     Lys Ser Arg Gly Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Val Gl - #y Phe Gln Ser His Phe     #               595     - AAC AGC GGT AAC CCG TAC AAC CCG AAC TTC CG - #C ACC ACC CTG CAG CAG      997     Asn Ser Gly Asn Pro Tyr Asn Pro Asn Phe Ar - #g Thr Thr Leu Gln Gln     #           610     - TTC GCG GCC CTC GGC GTG GAC GTC GAG GTC AC - #C GAG CTG GAC ATC GAG     1045     Phe Ala Ala Leu Gly Val Asp Val Glu Val Th - #r Glu Leu Asp Ile Glu     #       625     - AAC GCC CCG GCC CAG ACC TAC GCC AGC GTG AT - #C CGG GAC TGC CTG GCC     1093     Asn Ala Pro Ala Gln Thr Tyr Ala Ser Val Il - #e Arg Asp Cys Leu Ala     #   640     - GTG GAC CGC TGC ACC GGC ATC ACC GTC TGG GG - #T GTC CGC GAC AGC GAC     1141     Val Asp Arg Cys Thr Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gl - #y Val Arg Asp Ser Asp     645                 6 - #50                 6 - #55                 6 -     #60     - TCC TGG CGC TCG TAC CAG AAC CCG CTG CTG TT - #C GAC AAC AAC GGC AAC     1189     Ser Trp Arg Ser Tyr Gln Asn Pro Leu Leu Ph - #e Asp Asn Asn Gly Asn     #               675     - AAG AAG CAG GCC TAC TAC GCG GTG CTC GAC GC - #C CTG AAC GAG GGC TCC     1237     Lys Lys Gln Ala Tyr Tyr Ala Val Leu Asp Al - #a Leu Asn Glu Gly Ser     #           690     - GAC GAC GGT GGC GGC CCG TCC AAC CCG CCG GT - #C TCG CCG CCG CCG GGT     1285     Asp Asp Gly Gly Gly Pro Ser Asn Pro Pro Va - #l Ser Pro Pro Pro Gly     #       705     - GGC GGT TCC GGG CAG ATC CGG GGC GTG GCC TC - #C AAC CGG TGC ATC GAC     1333     Gly Gly Ser Gly Gln Ile Arg Gly Val Ala Se - #r Asn Arg Cys Ile Asp     #   720     - GTG CCG AAC GGC AAC ACC GCC GAC GGC ACC CA - #G GTC CAG CTG TAC GAC     1381     Val Pro Asn Gly Asn Thr Ala Asp Gly Thr Gl - #n Val Gln Leu Tyr Asp     725                 7 - #30                 7 - #35                 7 -     #40     - TGC CAC AGC GGT TCC AAC CAG CAG TGG ACC TA - #C ACC TCG TCC GGT GAG     1429     Cys His Ser Gly Ser Asn Gln Gln Trp Thr Ty - #r Thr Ser Ser Gly Glu     #               755     - TTC CGC ATC TTC GGC AAC AAG TGC CTG GAC GC - #G GGC GGC TCC AGC AAC     1477     Phe Arg Ile Phe Gly Asn Lys Cys Leu Asp Al - #a Gly Gly Ser Ser Asn     #           770     - GGT GCG GTG GTC CAG ATC TAC AGC TGC TGG GG - #C GGC GCC AAC CAG AAG     1525     Gly Ala Val Val Gln Ile Tyr Ser Cys Trp Gl - #y Gly Ala Asn Gln Lys     #       785     - TGG GAG CTC CGG GCC GAC GGC ACC ATC GTG GG - #C GTG CAG TCC GGG CTG     1573     Trp Glu Leu Arg Ala Asp Gly Thr Ile Val Gl - #y Val Gln Ser Gly Leu     #   800     - TGC CTC GAC GCG GTG GGT GGC GGC ACC GGC AA - #C GGC ACG CGG CTG CAG     1621     Cys Leu Asp Ala Val Gly Gly Gly Thr Gly As - #n Gly Thr Arg Leu Gln     805                 8 - #10                 8 - #15                 8 -     #20     - CTC TAC TCC TGC TGG GGC GGC AAC AAC CAG AA - #G TGG TCC TAC AAC GCC     1669     Leu Tyr Ser Cys Trp Gly Gly Asn Asn Gln Ly - #s Trp Ser Tyr Asn Ala     #               835     - TGATCCCCGG CTGATCGACC CTAGTTGAGG CCGTCTCCGG TACGGCACCG TC - #GGACCGGA     1729     - GGCGGTCCCT TGTTCGTCCA GGACGGAAGG ACCGGTCTGA GCAGGCGCGG CG - #ATCGGACA     1789     - CCATGGTGGG AGGCACGAAA GCGGGAGGGG GTCGTATTCC GAGACTCCGG GA - #AGTGGAGG     1849     #  1864     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 492 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:     - Met Gly Val Asn Ala Phe Pro Arg Pro Gly Al - #a Arg Arg Phe Thr Gly     #                 15     - Gly Leu Tyr Arg Ala Leu Ala Ala Ala Thr Va - #l Ser Val Val Gly Val     #             30     - Val Thr Ala Leu Thr Val Thr Gln Pro Ala Se - #r Ala Ala Ala Ser Thr     #         45     - Leu Ala Glu Gly Ala Ala Gln His Asn Arg Ty - #r Phe Gly Val Ala Ile     #     60     - Ala Ala Asn Arg Leu Thr Asp Ser Val Tyr Th - #r Asn Ile Ala Asn Arg     # 80     - Glu Phe Asn Ser Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys Ile Asp Ala Thr     #                 95     - Glu Pro Gln Gln Gly Arg Phe Asp Phe Thr Gl - #n Ala Asp Arg Ile Tyr     #           110     - Asn Trp Ala Arg Gln Asn Gly Lys Gln Val Ar - #g Gly His Thr Leu Ala     #       125     - Trp His Ser Gln Gln Pro Gln Trp Met Gln As - #n Leu Ser Gly Gln Ala     #   140     - Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Ile Asn His Ile Gln Gl - #y Val Met Ser Tyr Tyr     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Arg Gly Lys Ile Pro Ile Trp Asp Val Val As - #n Glu Ala Phe Glu Asp     #               175     - Gly Asn Ser Gly Arg Arg Cys Asp Ser Asn Le - #u Gln Arg Thr Gly Asn     #           190     - Asp Trp Ile Glu Val Ala Phe Arg Thr Ala Ar - #g Gln Gly Asp Pro Ser     #       205     - Ala Lys Leu Cys Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Ile Gl - #u Asn Trp Asn Ala Ala     #   220     - Lys Thr Gln Ala Val Tyr Asn Met Val Arg As - #p Phe Lys Ser Arg Gly     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Hi - #s Phe Asn Ser Gly Asn     #               255     - Pro Tyr Asn Pro Asn Phe Arg Thr Thr Leu Gl - #n Gln Phe Ala Ala Leu     #           270     - Gly Val Asp Val Glu Val Thr Glu Leu Asp Il - #e Glu Asn Ala Pro Ala     #       285     - Gln Thr Tyr Ala Ser Val Ile Arg Asp Cys Le - #u Ala Val Asp Arg Cys     #   300     - Thr Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gly Val Arg Asp Se - #r Asp Ser Trp Arg Ser     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Tyr Gln Asn Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Asn Asn Gl - #y Asn Lys Lys Gln Ala     #               335     - Tyr Tyr Ala Val Leu Asp Ala Leu Asn Glu Gl - #y Ser Asp Asp Gly Gly     #           350     - Gly Pro Ser Asn Pro Pro Val Ser Pro Pro Pr - #o Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly     #       365     - Gln Ile Arg Gly Val Ala Ser Asn Arg Cys Il - #e Asp Val Pro Asn Gly     #   380     - Asn Thr Ala Asp Gly Thr Gln Val Gln Leu Ty - #r Asp Cys His Ser Gly     385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -     #00     - Ser Asn Gln Gln Trp Thr Tyr Thr Ser Ser Gl - #y Glu Phe Arg Ile Phe     #               415     - Gly Asn Lys Cys Leu Asp Ala Gly Gly Ser Se - #r Asn Gly Ala Val Val     #           430     - Gln Ile Tyr Ser Cys Trp Gly Gly Ala Asn Gl - #n Lys Trp Glu Leu Arg     #       445     - Ala Asp Gly Thr Ile Val Gly Val Gln Ser Gl - #y Leu Cys Leu Asp Ala     #   460     - Val Gly Gly Gly Thr Gly Asn Gly Thr Arg Le - #u Gln Leu Tyr Ser Cys     465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -     #80     - Trp Gly Gly Asn Asn Gln Lys Trp Ser Tyr As - #n Ala     #               490     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 480 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: AM - #50     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:     - Met Gly Val Asn Ala Phe Pro Arg Pro Gly Al - #a Arg Arg Phe Thr Gly     #                15     - Gly Leu Tyr Arg Ala Leu Ala Ala Ala Thr Va - #l Ser Val Val Gly Val     #            30     - Val Thr Ala Leu Thr Val Thr Gln Pro Ala Se - #r Ala Ala Ala Ser Thr     #        45     - Leu Ala Glu Gly Ala Ala Gln His Asn Arg Ty - #r Phe Gly Val Ala Ile     #    60     - Ala Ala Asn Arg Leu Thr Asp Ser Val Tyr Th - #r Asn Ile Ala Asn Arg     #80     - Glu Phe Asn Ser Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys Ile Asp Ala Thr     #                95     - Glu Pro Gln Gln Gly Arg Phe Asp Phe Thr Gl - #n Ala Asp Arg Ile Tyr     #           110     - Asn Trp Ala Arg Gln Asn Gly Lys Gln Val Ar - #g Gly His Thr Leu Ala     #       125     - Trp His Ser Gln Gln Pro Gln Trp Met Gln As - #n Leu Ser Gly Gln Ala     #   140     - Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Ile Asn His Ile Gln Gl - #y Val Met Ser Tyr Tyr     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Arg Gly Lys Ile Pro Ile Trp Asp Val Val As - #n Glu Ala Phe Glu Asp     #               175     - Gly Asn Ser Gly Arg Arg Cys Asp Ser Asn Le - #u Gln Arg Thr Gly Asn     #           190     - Asp Trp Ile Glu Val Ala Phe Arg Thr Ala Ar - #g Gln Gly Asp Pro Ser     #       205     - Ala Lys Leu Cys Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Ile Gl - #u Asn Trp Asn Ala Ala     #   220     - Lys Thr Gln Ala Val Tyr Asn Met Val Arg As - #p Phe Lys Ser Arg Gly     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Hi - #s Phe Asn Ser Gly Asn     #               255     - Pro Tyr Asn Pro Asn Phe Arg Thr Thr Leu Gl - #n Gln Phe Ala Ala Leu     #           270     - Gly Val Asp Val Glu Val Thr Glu Leu Asp Il - #e Glu Asn Ala Pro Ala     #       285     - Gln Thr Tyr Ala Ser Val Ile Arg Asp Cys Le - #u Ala Val Asp Arg Cys     #   300     - Thr Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gly Val Arg Asp Se - #r Asp Ser Trp Arg Ser     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Tyr Gln Asn Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Asn Asn Gl - #y Asn Lys Lys Gln Ala     #               335     - Tyr Tyr Ala Val Leu Asp Ala Leu Asn Glu Gl - #y Ser Asp Asp Gly Gly     #           350     - Gly Pro Ser Asn Pro Pro Val Ser Pro Pro Pr - #o Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly     #       365     - Gln Ile Arg Gly Val Ala Ser Asn Arg Cys Il - #e Asp Val Pro Asn Gly     #   380     - Asn Thr Ala Asp Gly Thr Gln Val Gln Leu Ty - #r Asp Cys His Ser Gly     385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -     #00     - Ser Asn Gln Gln Trp Thr Tyr Thr Ser Ser Gl - #y Glu Phe Arg Ile Phe     #               415     - Gly Asn Lys Cys Leu Asp Ala Gly Gly Ser Se - #r Asn Gly Ala Val Val     #           430     - Gln Ile Tyr Ser Cys Trp Gly Gly Ala Asn Gl - #n Lys Trp Glu Leu Arg     #       445     - Ala Asp Gly Thr Ile Val Gly Val Gln Ser Gl - #y Leu Cys Leu Asp Ala     #   460     - Val Gly Gly Gly Thr Gly Asn Gly Thr Arg Le - #u Gln Leu Tyr Ser Cys     465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -     #80     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 434 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: UO - #8894     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:     - Met Pro Ile Asn Val Met Pro Arg Pro Gly Al - #a Arg Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa     #                15     - Xaa Xaa Xaa Arg Ala Leu Leu Ala Gly Ala Va - #l Gly Leu Leu Thr Ala     #            30     - Ala Ala Ala Leu Val Ala Pro Ser Pro Ala Va - #l Ala Ala Glu Ser Thr     #        45     - Leu Gly Ala Ala Ala Ala Gln Ser Gly Arg Ty - #r Phe Gly Thr Ala Ile     #    60     - Ala Ser Gly Arg Leu Asn Asp Ser Thr Tyr Th - #r Thr Ile Ala Asn Arg     #80     - Glu Phe Asn Met Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys Ile Asp Ala Thr     #                95     - Glu Pro Asn Arg Gly Gln Phe Asn Phe Ser Se - #r Ala Asp Arg Ile Tyr     #           110     - Asn Trp Ala Val Gln Asn Gly Lys Gln Val Ar - #g Gly His Thr Leu Ala     #       125     - Trp His Ser Gln Gln Pro Gly Trp Met Gln Se - #r Leu Ser Gly Ser Ser     #   140     - Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Ile Asp His Ile Asn Gl - #y Val Met Ala His Tyr     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Lys Gly Lys Ile Val Gln Trp Asp Val Val As - #n Glu Ala Phe Ala Asp     #               175     - Gly Asn Ser Gly Gly Arg Arg Asp Ser Asn Le - #u Gln Arg Thr Gly Asn     #           190     - Asp Trp Ile Glu Val Ala Phe Arg Thr Ala Ar - #g Asn Ala Asp Pro Asn     #       205     - Ala Lys Leu Cys Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Ile Gl - #u Asn Trp Asn Trp Ala     #   220     - Lys Thr Gln Gly Val Tyr Met Asn Val Arg As - #p Phe Lys Gln Arg Gly     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Hi - #s Phe Asn Ser Gly Ser     #               255     - Pro Tyr Asn Ser Asn Phe Arg Thr Thr Leu Gl - #n Asn Phe Ala Ala Leu     #           270     - Gly Val Asp Val Ala Ile Thr Glu Leu Asp Il - #e Gln Gly Ala Ser Pro     #       285     - Thr Thr Tyr Ala Asn Val Val Asn Asp Cys Le - #u Ala Val Ser Arg Cys     #   300     - Leu Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gly Val Arg Asp Th - #r Asp Ser Trp Arg Ser     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Asp Gln Thr Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Gly Asn Gl - #y Asn Lys Lys Ala Ala     #               335     - Tyr Ser Ala Val Leu Asn Ala Leu Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Asn Gly Gly     #           350     - Gly Thr Ser Glu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Pro Pr - #o Ala Ser Asp Ala Gly     #       365     - Thr Ile Lys Gly Val Gly Ser Gly Arg Cys Le - #u Asp Val Pro Asn Ala     #   380     - Ser Thr Ser Asp Gly Val Gln Leu Gln Leu Tr - #p Asp Cys His Gly Gly     385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -     #00     - Thr Asn Gln Gln Trp Thr Tyr Thr Asp Ser Gl - #n Glu Leu Arg Val Tyr     #               415     - Gly Asn Lys Cys Leu Asp Ala Ala Gly Thr Gl - #y Asn Gly Thr Lys Val     #           430     - Gln Ile     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 492 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: AM - #50     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:     - Met Gly Val Asn Ala Phe Pro Arg Pro Gly Al - #a Arg Arg Phe Thr Gly     #                15     - Gly Leu Tyr Arg Ala Leu Ala Ala Ala Thr Va - #l Ser Val Val Gly Val     #            30     - Val Thr Ala Leu Thr Val Thr Gln Pro Ala Se - #r Ala Ala Ala Ser Thr     #        45     - Leu Ala Glu Gly Ala Ala Gln His Asn Arg Ty - #r Phe Gly Val Ala Ile     #    60     - Ala Ala Asn Arg Leu Thr Asp Ser Val Tyr Th - #r Asn Ile Ala Asn Arg     #80     - Glu Phe Asn Ser Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys Ile Asp Ala Thr     #                95     - Glu Pro Gln Gln Gly Arg Phe Asp Phe Thr Gl - #n Ala Asp Arg Ile Tyr     #           110     - Asn Trp Ala Arg Gln Asn Gly Lys Gln Val Ar - #g Gly His Thr Leu Ala     #       125     - Trp His Ser Gln Gln Pro Gln Trp Met Gln As - #n Leu Ser Gly Gln Ala     #   140     - Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Ile Asn His Ile Gln Gl - #y Val Met Ser Tyr Tyr     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Arg Gly Lys Ile Pro Ile Trp Asp Val Val As - #n Glu Ala Phe Glu Asp     #               175     - Gly Asn Ser Gly Arg Arg Cys Asp Ser Asn Le - #u Gln Arg Thr Gly Asn     #           190     - Asp Trp Ile Glu Val Ala Phe Arg Thr Ala Ar - #g Gln Gly Asp Pro Ser     #       205     - Ala Lys Leu Cys Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Ile Gl - #u Asn Trp Asn Ala Ala     #   220     - Lys Thr Gln Ala Val Tyr Asn Met Val Arg As - #p Phe Lys Ser Arg Gly     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Hi - #s Phe Asn Ser Gly Asn     #               255     - Pro Tyr Asn Pro Asn Phe Arg Thr Thr Leu Gl - #n Gln Phe Ala Ala Leu     #           270     - Gly Val Asp Val Glu Val Thr Glu Leu Asp Il - #e Glu Asn Ala Pro Ala     #       285     - Gln Thr Tyr Ala Ser Val Ile Arg Asp Cys Le - #u Ala Val Asp Arg Cys     #   300     - Thr Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gly Val Arg Asp Se - #r Asp Ser Trp Arg Ser     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Tyr Gln Asn Pro Leu Leu Phe Asp Asn Asn Gl - #y Asn Lys Lys Gln Ala     #               335     - Tyr Tyr Ala Val Leu Asp Ala Leu Asn Glu Gl - #y Ser Asp Asp Gly Gly     #           350     - Gly Pro Ser Asn Pro Pro Val Ser Pro Pro Pr - #o Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly     #       365     - Gln Ile Arg Gly Val Ala Ser Asn Arg Cys Il - #e Asp Val Pro Asn Gly     #   380     - Asn Thr Ala Asp Gly Thr Gln Val Gln Leu Ty - #r Asp Cys His Ser Gly     385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -     #00     - Ser Asn Gln Gln Trp Thr Tyr Thr Ser Ser Gl - #y Glu Phe Arg Ile Phe     #               415     - Gly Asn Lys Cys Leu Asp Ala Gly Gly Ser Se - #r Asn Gly Ala Val Val     #           430     - Gln Ile Tyr Ser Cys Trp Gly Gly Ala Asn Gl - #n Lys Trp Glu Leu Arg     #       445     - Ala Asp Gly Thr Ile Val Gly Val Gln Ser Gl - #y Leu Cys Leu Asp Ala     #   460     - Val Gly Gly Gly Thr Gly Asn Gly Thr Arg Le - #u Gln Leu Tyr Ser Cys     465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -     #80     - Trp Gly Gly Asn Asn Gln Lys Trp Ser Tyr As - #n Ala     #               490     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 491 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: M6 - #4551     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:     - Met Gly Ser Tyr Ala Leu Pro Arg Ser Gly Va - #l Arg Arg Ser Ile Arg     #                15     - Val Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Va - #l Gly Val Leu Gly Thr     #            30     - Ala Thr Ala Leu Ile Ala Pro Pro Gly Ala Hi - #s Ala Ala Glu Ser Thr     #        45     - Leu Gly Ala Ala Ala Ala Gln Ser Gly Arg Ty - #r Phe Gly Thr Ala Ile     #    60     - Ala Ser Gly Arg Leu Ser Asp Ser Thr Tyr Th - #r Ser Ile Ala Gly Arg     #80     - Glu Phe Asn Met Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys Ile Asp Ala Thr     #                95     - Glu Pro Gln Arg Gly Gln Phe Asn Phe Ser Se - #r Ala Asp Arg Val Tyr     #           110     - Asn Trp Ala Val Gln Asn Gly Lys Gln Val Ar - #g Gly His Thr Leu Ala     #       125     - Trp His Ser Gln Gln Pro Gly Trp Met Gln Se - #r Leu Ser Gly Arg Pro     #   140     - Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Ile Asp His Ile Asn Gl - #y Val Met Ala His Tyr     145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -     #60     - Lys Gly Lys Ile Val Gln Trp Asp Val Val As - #n Glu Ala Phe Ala Asp     #               175     - Gly Ser Ser Gly Ala Arg Arg Asp Ser Asn Le - #u Gln Arg Ser Gly Asn     #           190     - Asp Trp Ile Glu Val Ala Phe Arg Thr Ala Ar - #g Ala Ala Asp Pro Ser     #       205     - Ala Lys Leu Cys Tyr Asn Asp Tyr Asn Val Gl - #u Asn Trp Thr Trp Ala     #   220     - Lys Thr Gln Ala Met Tyr Asn Met Val Arg As - #p Phe Lys Gln Arg Gly     225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -     #40     - Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Hi - #s Phe Asn Ser Gly Ser     #               255     - Pro Tyr Asn Ser Asn Phe Arg Thr Thr Leu Gl - #n Asn Phe Ala Ala Leu     #           270     - Gly Val Asp Val Ala Ile Thr Glu Leu Asp Il - #e Gln Gly Ala Pro Ala     #       285     - Ser Thr Tyr Ala Asn Val Thr Asn Asp Cys Le - #u Ala Val Ser Arg Cys     #   300     - Leu Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gly Val Arg Asp Se - #r Asp Ser Trp Arg Ser     305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -     #20     - Glu Gln Thr Pro Leu Leu Phe Asn Asn Asp Gl - #y Ser Lys Lys Ala Ala     #               335     - Tyr Thr Ala Val Leu Asp Ala Leu Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Asn Gly Gly     #           350     - Asp Ser Ser Glu Pro Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Ala Asp Gly Gly     #       365     - Gln Ile Lys Gly Val Gly Ser Gly Arg Cys Le - #u Asp Val Pro Asp Ala     #   380     - Ser Thr Ser Asp Gly Thr Gln Leu Gln Leu Tr - #p Asp Cys His Ser Gly     385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -     #00     - Thr Asn Gln Gln Trp Ala Ala Thr Asp Ala Gl - #y Glu Leu Arg Val Tyr     #               415     - Gly Asp Lys Cys Leu Asp Ala Ala Gly Thr Se - #r Asn Gly Ser Lys Val     #           430     - Gln Ile Tyr Ser Cys Trp Gly Gly Asp Asn Gl - #n Lys Trp Arg Leu Asn     #       445     - Ser Asp Gly Ser Val Val Gly Val Gln Ser Gl - #y Leu Cys Leu Asp Ala     #   460     - Val Gly Asn Gly Thr Ala Asn Gly Thr Leu Il - #e Gln Leu Tyr Thr Cys     465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -     #80     - Ser Asn Gly Ser Asn Gln Arg Trp Thr Arg Th - #r     #               490     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 14 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1696     (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:     - Ala Ala Ser Thr Leu Ala Glu Gly Ala Ala Gl - #n His Asn Arg     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 10 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1697     (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:     - Tyr Phe Gly Val Ala Ile Ala Ala Asn Arg     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 12 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1698     (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:     - Leu Asn Asp Ser Val Tyr Thr Asn Ile Ala As - #n Arg     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 9 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1699     (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 1     #/note= "Position 1 may be Asn, Gly or                   Xaa"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:     - Xaa Thr Gly Ile Thr Val Xaa Gly Val     1               5     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 11 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1703     (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 1     #/note= "Position 1 may be His, Glu or                   Thr"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 2     #/note= "Position 2 may be Glu or Phe"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 3     #/note= "Position 3 may be Leu or Asn"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 4     #/note= "Position 4 may be Val or Ser"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 5     #/note= "Position 5 may be Tyr or Val"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 6     #/note= "Position 6 may be Asn or Thr"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 7     #/note= "Position 7 may be Met or Ala"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 8     #/note= "Position 8 may be Val or Glu"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 9     #/note= "Position 9 may be Asn or Xaa"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 10     #/note= "Position 10 may be Glu or Xaa"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: Peptide               (B) LOCATION: 11     #/note= "Position 11 may be Met or Xaa"     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:     - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 12 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1704     (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:     - Glu Phe Asn Ser Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 14 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: Xl - #nA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:     - Ala Glu Ser Thr Leu Gly Ala Ala Ala Ala Gl - #n Ser Gly Arg     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 10 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: Xl - #nA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:     - Tyr Phe Gly Thr Ala Ile Ala Ser Gly Arg     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 12 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: Xl - #nA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:     - Leu Ser Asp Ser Thr Tyr Thr Ser Ile Ala Gl - #y Arg     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 12 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: Xl - #nA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:     - Glu Phe Asn Met Val Thr Ala Glu Asn Glu Me - #t Lys     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 13 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant               (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: Xl - #nA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:     - Ser Arg Cys Leu Gly Ile Thr Val Trp Gly Va - #l Arg Asp     #                10     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Actinomadura - # sp. DSM43186     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1696s    (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 16 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Actinomadura - # sp. DSM43186     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1703as   (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:     #    16     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 17 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: Actinomadura - # sp. DSM43186     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:     #1704as   (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: #     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:     #   17             C     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 39 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: xl - #nA 331-369as     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:     #    39            TGAC GGCCGAGAAC GAGATGAAG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 28 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: xl - #nA 257-284s     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:     #             28   CGGC ACCGCCAT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 32 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES     -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:               (A) ORGANISM: S. livida - #ns     -   (viii) POSITION IN GENOME:               (A) CHROMOSOME/SEGMENT: xl - #nA 530-561as     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:     #          32      TCGA TCATCGCCTG GC     __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. Culture medium from the culture of a recombinant host cell wherein said host cell is not Actinomadura flexuosa, said culture medium comprising a protein having xylanase activity that had been secreted into said medium during the culture of said host cell, wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, and wherein said host cell has been transformed with a recombinant vector that encodes said protein.
 2. The culture medium of claim 1, wherein said host is Trichoderma.
 3. The culture medium of claim 2, wherein said host is T. reesei.
 4. A method for producing a culture medium, said medium comprising a protein having xylanase activity, said method comprising:a) culturing a host in a culture medium, wherein said host is not Actinomadura flexuosa, and wherein said host has been transformed with a DNA sequence encoding said protein, said DNA encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4 or a xylanolytic fragment of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4; b) expressing said protein; c) secreting said protein into said culture medium; and d) recovering said medium.
 5. The culture medium of claim 1 wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the sequence of FIG. 13-13A.
 6. The culture medium of claim 1 wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the sequence of FIG. 14-14A.
 7. The culture medium of any one of claims 1, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said host is a eukaryotic cell.
 8. The culture medium of claim 7 wherein said eukaryotic cell is a fungal cell.
 9. The culture medium of claim 8 wherein said host is Trichoderma.
 10. The culture medium of claim 9, wherein said host is T. reesei.
 11. The culture medium of any one of claims 1-3 or 9 obtained by a method comprising:a) culturing a host in a culture medium, wherein said host is not Actinomadura flexuosa and wherein said host has been transformed with a DNA sequence encoding said amino acid sequences, wherein said DNA sequence is operably linked to a homologous xylanase promoter or to the T. reesei cbh1 promoter, b) expressing said protein; c) secreting said protein into said culture medium; and d) recovering said medium.
 12. The culture medium of claim 1, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said host is a prokaryotic cell.
 13. The culture medium of claim 1, 5 or 6 wherein said host cell is a Trichoderma host that is substantially incapable of synthesizing one or more cellulase enzymes when compared to the wild type host cell.
 14. Culture medium from the culture of a recombinant host cell wherein said host cell is not Actinomadura flexuosa, said culture medium comprising a protein having xylanase activity wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises the mature AM35 protein of SEQ ID NO:2, said AM35 amino acid sequence beginning at the amino acid after alanine
 43. 15. The method of claim 4, wherein said DNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of a xylanase encoding sequence from pALK923, pALK938, pALK939, pALK940, pALK941, pALK1056, pALK927, pALK928 and a xylanolytic fragment of said amino acid sequences.
 16. An enzyme preparation derived from the culture medium of a recombinant host cell wherein said host cell is not Actinomadura flexuosa, said enzyme preparation comprising a protein having xylanase activity that have been secreted into said medium during the culture of said host cell, wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the goup consisting of the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, and wherein saidhost cell has been transformed with a recombinant vector that encodes said protein.
 17. The enzyme preparation of claim 16, wherein said host is Trichoderma.
 18. The enzyme preparation of claim 17, wherein said host is T. reesei.
 19. A method for producing an enzyme preparation said enzyme preparation comprising a protein having xylanase activity, said method comprising:a) culturing a host in a culture medium, wherein said host is not Actinomadura flexuosa, and wherein said host has been transformed with a DNA sequence encoding said protein, said DNA encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4 or a xylanolytic fragment of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; b) expressing said protein; c) secreting said protein into said culture medium; and d) recovering said protein.
 20. The enzyme preparation of claim 16 wherein said the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the sequence of FIG. 13-13A.
 21. The enzyme preparation of claim 16 wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of a xylanolytic fragment of the sequence of FIG. 14-14A.
 22. The enzyme preparation of claim 16, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said host is a eukaryotic cell.
 23. The enzyme preparation of claim 22, wherein said eukaryotic cell is a fungal cell.
 24. The enzyme preparation of claim 23 wherein said host is Trichoderma.
 25. The enzyme preparation of claim 24, wherein said host is T. reesei.
 26. The enzyme preparation of any one of claims 16-18 or 24 obtained by a method comprising:a) culturing a host in a culture medium, wherein said host is not Acinomadura flexuosa and wherein said host has been transformed with a DNA sequence encoding said amino acid sequences, wherein said DNA sequence is operably linked to a homologous xylanase promoter or to the T reesei cbh1 promoter b) expressing said protein; c) secreting said protein into said culture medium; and d) recovering said enzyme preparation from said culture medium.
 27. The enzyme preparation of claim 16, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said host is a prokaryotic cell.
 28. The enzyme preparation of claim 16, 20 or 21 wherein said host cell is a Trichoderma host that is substantially incapable of synthesizing one or more cellulase enzymes when compared to the wild type host cell.
 29. An enzyme preparation derived from the culture medium of a recombinant host cell wherein said host cell is not Actinomadura flexuosa, said enzyme preparation comprising a protein having xylanase activity wherein the amino acid sequence of said protein comprises the mature AM35 protein of SEQ ID NO:2, said AM35 amino acid sequence beginning at the amino acid after alanine
 43. 30. The method of claim 19, wherein said DNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of a xylanase encoding sequence from pALK923, pALK938, pALK939, pALK940, pALK941, pALK1056, pALK927, pALK928 and a xylanolytic fragment of said amino acid sequences. 